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1919

Jackie Robinson born

Cairo, GA

January 31, 1919
Jack Roosevelt Robinson is born to Jerry and Mallie Robinson.

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1937

Enrolls in Pasadena Junior College

Pasadena, CA

February 1, 1937
Jackie Robinson enrolls in Pasadena Junior College.

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1939

Enrolling at UCLA

Los Angeles, CA

February 15, 1939
Jackie Robinson enrolls at UCLA. While there he lettered in four sports, football, basketball, track and baseball. He remains the only athlete to have lettered in four sports in UCLA’s history.

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1940

Jackie & Rachel meet

Los Angeles, CA

September 1, 1940
Jackie Robinson meets Rachel Isum on the UCLA campus.

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1942

Jackie is drafted

April 3, 1942
Jackie Robinson is drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas (with heavyweight boxing great Joe Louis) and in Fort Hood, TX where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was honorably discharged in 1944 following an ankle injury.

06a monarchs

1944

Jackie joins the Monarchs

April, 1944
Jackie joins the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues.

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1945

The Montreal Royals

Brooklyn, NY

October 23, 1945
Jackie Robinson signs to play with the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ farm team.

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1946

Jackie & Rachel marry

Los Angeles, CA

February 10, 1946
Jackie Robinson and Rachel Isum are married

gettyimages 107478594 594x594 (1)

1946

Jackie Robinson Jr. is born

Los Angeles, CA

November 18, 1846
Jackie Robinson Jr. is born to Jackie and Rachel Robinson.

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1947

Breaking the Color Barrier

Brooklyn, NY

April 15, 1947
Jackie Robinson makes his Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player in modern baseball history.

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1949

Named NL MVP

Fall 1949
Jackie Robinson named MLB National League Most Valuable Player.

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1950

Sharon is born

St. Albans, NY

January 13, 1950
Sharon Annetta Robinson is born to Jackie and Rachel Robinson.

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1952

David is born

New York, NY

May 14, 1952
David Robinson is born to Jackie and Rachel Robinson.

Jackie Robinson sliding into homeplate

1955

He's Safe

New York, NY

September 28, 1955
Jackie Robinson steals home in game 1 of the 1955 World Series.

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1957

Career Change

New York, NY

January 14, 1957
Jackie Robinson declines a contract from the New York Giants, to whom he had been traded, and retires from baseball. He becomes Vice President of Personnel Relations for Chock Full ‘O Nuts.

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1962

Hall of Fame Induction

Cooperstown, NY

January 23, 1962
Jackie Robinson is inducted in to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

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1963

Jazz for a Cause

Stamford, CT

June 30, 1963
Jackie and Rachel Robinson host a jazz concert at their home in Stamford to raise bail money for jailed civil rights activists. It is the first of an annual event that continues until 2001.

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1965

Freedom National Bank

Harlem, NY

January 4, 1965
Co-founded by Jackie Robinson, Freedom National Bank opens. It would be come the largest black-owned and operated bank in New York State.

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1972

Jackie passes away

Stamford, CT

October 24, 1972
Jack Roosevelt Robinson dies.

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1984

Presidential Recognition

Washington, DC

March 26, 1984
Jackie Robinson is awarded, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rachel Robinson accepts the award from President Ronald Reagan during a White House ceremony.

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1997

42 Retired

New York, NY

April 15, 1997
The nation, led by President Bill Clinton, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historic entry into baseball. Major League Baseball honors him during a nationally televised ceremony at Shea Stadium by retiring his number “42” in perpetuity. JRF launches a $12 million endowment campaign with a $1 million gift from Major League Baseball.

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2003

Congressional Honors

Washington, DC

October 29, 2003
The Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award bestowed by Congress, is awarded to Jackie Robinson. Rachel Robinson is presented the award by President George W. Bush during a ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda on March 2, 2005.

50 42

2013

"42" Premieres

New York, NY

April 1, 2013
The major motion picture “42” premieres. Rachel Robinson and JRF provided counsel during the filming of the movie.