1997 season of Major League Baseball is dedicated for him. It's the 50th anniversary of the entry of a black player in baseball.
Active Republican who was fiercely anti-Communist, but liberal on many other issues. He supported Nelson Rockefeller for president in 1964. He did support, however, Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey in 1968 over Richard Nixon.
Although Jackie Robinson was more famous for his career in Brooklyn, he always had a special appreciation for the city of Montreal, Canada where he played as part of the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers' top farm team. Although that season was emotionally very difficult for Robinson with all the racist hostility he faced, he enjoyed the loud, enthusiastic and unwavering support of the home city which made it a welcome refuge where he was treated as the local hero and celebrity.
As a lieutenant in the US Army during World War II, Robinson faced a court-martial in 1944 for refusing to move to the rear of an army bus (he was cleared of all charges and received an honorable discharge).
Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2005.
Daughter, Sharon Robinson, with Rachel. [13 January 1950]
Dedicated civil rights activist.
Elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, 1991 (played on a minor league team in Montreal prior to being called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers).
He helped bring back the stolen base to the National League with his exciting play.
His middle name was, in all likelihood, a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt - who had died three weeks before Robinson was born.
Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 1997.
Jackie's third child, David, lives in Africa where he operates a coffee farm with his wife and children.
Notable career statistics: .311 Batting Average (93rd All Time) and .409 On- base percentage (40th All Time).
Played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956.
Played primarily at second base, though he played first base and third base at the beginning and end of his major league career (plus some left field).
Played shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs briefly in 1945 before his stint with the Montreal Royals in the minors and Brooklyn Dodgers in the majors.
Rock icon Chuck Berry wrote a verse about his athletic prowess in his classic hit, "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man".
Selected for the National League's All-Star team six times (1949-1954)
Son, Jackie Robinson Jr, with Rachel. [18 November 1946]
Starred in baseball, basketball, football and track at UCLA.