Jackie Robinson Day, MLB honor former Bruin
Jackie Robinson (top left) poses with the rest of the UCLA baseball team. Robinson played baseball at UCLA in 1940. (Courtesy of UCLA Athletics)
By Daily Bruin
April 15, 2014 7:10 p.m.
“Maybe tomorrow, we’ll all wear ’42,’” said Lucas Black as he portrayed former Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the 2013 film, “42”.
That day is today: Jackie Robinson Day, the day in Major League Baseball that former Bruin and four-sport letter winner Jackie Robinson is honored and celebrated as every player wears his jersey number, 42.
On April 15 in 1947, 67 years ago, Robinson made his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the racial barrier to become the first African American to play in the major leagues.
This is the 11th anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day and the first year that no active MLB player wears 42, as former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera retired at the end of last season. Robinson’s number has been retired throughout the MLB, making this the only day of each season that 42 ever graces the field.
UCLA baseball’s stadium is named after him; the team has played at Jackie Robinson Stadium since 1981, where there is a statue of Robinson as well as a mural, which was unveiled last year.
While competing at UCLA from 1939-1941, Robinson played on the baseball, football, basketball and track and field teams.
Ironically enough, baseball was statistically his worst sport of the four. He hit .097 during the 1940 season, the lone one he played with the team. In two seasons of football, Robinson led the nation in punt return average in both 1939 and 1940. His career average of 18.8 yards on punt returns ranks fourth in NCAA history. He played two seasons of basketball, averaging 12.4 points in 1940 and 11.1 in 1941. While missing most of the 1940 track and field season playing baseball, he was still able to win the NCAA title in broad jump.
After leaving UCLA, Robinson joined the military for two years before signing a contact with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League in 1944. His style of play caught the attention of MLB scouts, and former Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey signed him to a minor league contract in 1945.
His success in the minors, where he hit .349 in 124 games, allowed Rickey to make the decision that it was time to change the sport of baseball.
The Dodgers purchased his contract on April 10, 1947, and five days later, he made his debut. That year, he would go on to win the first-ever Rookie of the Year Award, which is now named in his honor. He was also the MVP of the National League in 1949.
During his 10-year career, he hit .311 and was famous for always being a threat to steal a base, including home. He played in six World Series – winning once, in 1955 – and six All-Star games. He is the first African American to win Rookie of the Year, MVP and be elected to the Hall of Fame (1962).
Robinson passed away in 1972 because of diabetes, but as Jackie Robinson Day shows, his contributions to Major League Baseball and the world are not forgotten.
Compiled by Jason Drantch, Bruin Sports reporter.
