He played high school baseball at Muir Tech in Pasadena, CA where he played shortstop and catcher. He also shined his athletic talents in football, basketball and track. He then attended Pasadena Junior College where he played shortstop on the baseball team while also participating in football, basketball and track. He continued the four sport workload while at UCLA from 1939 to 1941 but only played baseball one season as he hit only .097.
He was intent on playing football after college, had played one season of semi-pro ball and was joining the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Football League when he was drafted into the army as World War II was under way. He was in the army from 1942 to 1944.
After leaving the army he planned on continuing his football career but tried out for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League. He was eventually given an offer to join the team and played 47 games in 1945 at shortstop. He hit .387 with 5 HR, 23 RBI, 36 R and 13 SB.
There was a push in MLB to have black players try out in search of talent to join the teams. Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the first to secure a player and signed Robinson to play for the Montreal Royals which was the Dodgers Triple A level team. He was moved from shortstop to second base in Spring training and in 1946 went on to hit .349 with 3 HR, 66 RBI, 113 R and 40 SB in 124 games.
The next season Robinson was given the chance and broke the color barrier as he earned a position on the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 28. In 1947 he hit .297/.383/.427 with 12 HR, 48 RBI, 125 R and 29 SB in 151 games. That first season he played first base because the Dodgers had Eddie Stanky entrenched at second but Stanky was traded to the Boston Braves before the start of the next season.
Robinson went on to enjoy a ten year career with the Brooklyn Dodgers playing first, second, third and outfield. Over his career he hit .311/.409/.447 with 137 HR, 734 RBI. 947 R and 197 SB in 1382 games. His best season may have been in 1949 when he hit .342/.432/.528 with 16 HR, 124 RBI, 122 R and 37 SB in 156 games.
Robinson set the standard and opened the door for many players to help erase the color barrier over the years. His legacy has a special place in MLB history.
After leaving the army he planned on continuing his football career but tried out for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League. He was eventually given an offer to join the team and played 47 games in 1945 at shortstop. He hit .387 with 5 HR, 23 RBI, 36 R and 13 SB.
There was a push in MLB to have black players try out in search of talent to join the teams. Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the first to secure a player and signed Robinson to play for the Montreal Royals which was the Dodgers Triple A level team. He was moved from shortstop to second base in Spring training and in 1946 went on to hit .349 with 3 HR, 66 RBI, 113 R and 40 SB in 124 games.
The next season Robinson was given the chance and broke the color barrier as he earned a position on the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 28. In 1947 he hit .297/.383/.427 with 12 HR, 48 RBI, 125 R and 29 SB in 151 games. That first season he played first base because the Dodgers had Eddie Stanky entrenched at second but Stanky was traded to the Boston Braves before the start of the next season.
Robinson went on to enjoy a ten year career with the Brooklyn Dodgers playing first, second, third and outfield. Over his career he hit .311/.409/.447 with 137 HR, 734 RBI. 947 R and 197 SB in 1382 games. His best season may have been in 1949 when he hit .342/.432/.528 with 16 HR, 124 RBI, 122 R and 37 SB in 156 games.
Robinson set the standard and opened the door for many players to help erase the color barrier over the years. His legacy has a special place in MLB history.
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