Jackie Robinson

In honor of Black History Month, every school day The Cardinal will feature a prominent and/or historical Black American, living or dead, who has worked toward change, advancement, and/or world peace. Some of them are heroes, and some are unsung heroes, who deserve recognition, and have made a contributions to make society a better place.

Judith Sanchez, Staff Writer

February 9, 2024

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was a baseball player and born on January 31st, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia.

Robinson’s middle name was in honor of President Theodore who died 25 years before he was born. Robinson was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to Pasadena, California in 1920, after his father left. He graduated from John Muir High School and then attended Pasadena Junior College. During that time, he played basketball, baseball, football, and track. Robinson wasn’t the only athlete in the family. His older brother, Mathew Mackenzie Robinson won a silver medal in the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he broke the 200-meter record.

After graduating, Robinson went to UCLA, where he became the school’s first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track but then he was drafted into the army and served for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1944 and married his wife Rachel Robinson on February 10th, 1946. He had three children: Jackie JR, Sharon, born in 1950, and David, born in 1952.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson played first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers which led to the end of racial segregation in professional baseball. He changed baseball for many players after him. He won Rookie of the Year in 1947 and he won most valuable player in 1949, and then he Robinson decided to retire instead of playing for the Giants the Dodgers Rivals, and then in 1997 the Dodgers retired his uniform number 42 a, and in 1997 and started the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day started on April 15th, 2004.

Robinson died of a heart attack in October 1972 at just 53 years old. Robinson has been a significant figure in baseball and his legacy remains today. He changed the game for so many after him. Robinson spent nine years with the Dodgers and his record included 311 batting average 137 home runs 374 batted in and 197 stolen bases.

About the Contributor

Judith Sanchez, Senior Editor

Judith Sanchez is a senior here at Hoover High School and a part of the ALMA Academy. She has been in the yearbook since her sophomore year because it is a great class. She has been a part of Mid-City Can and this organization helps raise money to improve the park across the street from their office in Henwood Park. Mid-City also attends city council meetings to discuss why the park needs funding. She spent this summer working at SeaWorld in the food carts and restaurants. Having this job over the summer helped her with talking to new and different people, and it helped with having patience when dealing with people. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching films, her favorite songs are "Juna" by Clairo, "Taste" by Sabrina Carpenter, and "Guess" by Charli xcx. Her favorite films are Little Women and The Virgin Suicides. Her favorite foods are pasta, and her favorite drinks are lemonade and diet Coke. In the spring, she will graduate and head off to college. Some things that she is excited about are Grad night which will happen on her birthday and the Senior Walk that she has wanted to do since elementary school.