Jackie Robinson was a professional baseball player known for his outstanding skills. He was the first black player to play in MLB and was the first player to get the Rookie of the Year award. Some of his famous nicknames from which he is known are Jack, J-Rob, The Dark Destroyer, The Rookie, and Number 42.
Personal Basic Information
| Full Name | Jack Roosevelt Robinson |
| Nick Name | Jack, J-Rob, The Dark Destroyer, The Rookie, Number 42 |
| Father’s Name | Jerry Robinson |
| Mother’s Name | Mallie Robinson |
| Date of Birth (Born) | January 31, 1919 |
| Birth Place | Cairo, Georgia, USA |
| Current Age | Age: 107 years, 1 months, and 16 days as of today. Time left for next birthday: 10 months and 15 days. |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Weight | 195 pounds (88 kg) |
| Net worth | Approx. $6 million dollars at the time of his death in 1972 |
| Marriage Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Rachel Robinson |
| Kids Name | Jackie Robinson Jr., Sharon Robinson, David Robinson |
| High school | John Muir High School in Pasadena, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Current Team Name | He retired in 1957 at the age of 37 |
Jackie Robinson’s Net Worth
At the time of his death, his net worth was approximately. $6 million dollars in 1972, and this earnings are from various sources, which are mentioned below:
- MLB Salary: As of 2025 his earning from his baseball career is approx. $3 million dollars after adjusting it to 2025.
- Endorsements: He was one of the few black athletes to get brand campaigns, some of them are Adidas and Chock Full o’Nuts coffee and his earnings from this is approx. $1 million dollars as of 2025.
- Investments & Business ventures: He was the first Black vice president of a U.S. corporation and also co-founded a bank in 1964 to support black businesses. He also invested his money in businesses and his earnings from this were around $4- $5 million dollars as of 2025.
- Media Appearances: He worked as a sports analyst and has appeared on programs like “What’s My Line?” and “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Jackie’s approx. earning from this was $1 million dollars as of 2025.
- Autobiographies and Books: He has published his autobiography “I Never Had It Made” and co-authored “Wait till Next Year” and his earnings from this were approx. $150,000 to $300,000 dollars as of 2025.
Civil rights and philanthropy: He was involved in the Civil Rights Movement working with Martin Luther King Jr. and NAACP.
Jackie Robinson’s Early Life and Childhood
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919,in Cairo, Georgia, USA. His father Jerry Robinson abandoned his family when Jackie was 6 months old and his mother Mallie Robinson was a domestic worker and a field labourer, they moved to Pasadena, California.
They were discriminated against for being black and their neighbours even tried to kick them out of the neighbourhood.
He was the youngest of the 5 children of Mallie. Jackie attended Washington Junior High School and John Muir High School, Pasadena.
Jackie was good at sports ever since he was a child, he used to play football, basketball, baseball and track in his school. After seeing his hardworking brothers, Jackie was inspired.
Education and the Beginning of Sports Career
In Washington Junior High School, Pasadena, California, Jackie started playing sports in an organized manner and when he went to John Muir High School, Pasadena he was great at football, baseball, basketball, and track. When he started attending Pasadena Junior College was rewarded as the region’s MVP in baseball.
When took admission in University of California, Los Angeles, and became the first UCLA player to excel in four sports; Baseball, Football, Basketball, and track. He began his sports career with the Los Angeles Bulldogs in semi-professional football.
In 1942, Jackie put a hold on his football career and enlisted in the military to serve in World War II, he faced a lot of discrimination because he was Black.
In 1945, after completion of his military service, Jackie was drafted into a team named Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League where he started his baseball career.
He was able to make his debut in Montreal Royals in 1946 and 1947, Jackie signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African player in MLB (Major League Baseball).
Professional Career
1947–1957: He debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, breaking the barrier of color segregation in sports. He was named Rookie of the Year. He was the first African American to win the National League MVP and was an MLB All-Star six times. He led his team Brooklyn Dodgers to their first-ever win in the World Series.
Achievements / Awards / Medals
In the amazing journey of professional baseball Jackie has a long list of achievements and here are listed few of them:
International Achievements
- 1945: He was in the Negro League International Tours.
- His influence led him to be an inspiration for other people of color.
MLB Achievements
- 1947: He became the Rookie of the Year, he was the first person to get this award in MLB.
- 1949: He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the National League.
- 1949-1954: He became MLB All time star for six times.
- 1955: He led his team to victory in World Series Championship.
- 1972: Brooklyn Dodgers retired the Robinson jersey number 42 and each year the players pay tribute to Jackie Robinson.
Married Life and Family
Rachel Annetta Isum and Jackie Robinson got married on February 10, 1946. They met when they were in college, Rachel was a nursing student and Jackie was a star player. They had three children together.
- Jackie Robinson Jr. was born in 1946 and he served in the Vietnam War but suffered from drug addiction. In 1971, He passed away in a car accident at the age of 24.
- Sharon Robinson was born in 1950; She was an author and wrote about her father and she also was a teacher.
- David Robinson was born in 1952. He was a coffee farmer in Tanzania and promoted sustainable agriculture. He was also an activist.
Jackie Robinson Day
Jackie Robinson was the only person who broke the color barrier in baseball on April 15, 1947, and after that, April 15 is celebrated every year as Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball (MLB) to give him an honor.
To celebrate this, All MLB players, coaches, and umpires come together and wear Robinson’s jersey number, 42. On this day, special ceremonies and tributes are held in the stadium. Scholarships and community programs are also being promoted by the Foundation and MLB.
The Death
On October 24, 1972, Jackie passed away at the age of 53 in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. For a long time, Robinson was suffering from diabetes which to led problems like circulatory issues and he also was partially blind in one eye and eventually he suffered a heart attack in his home.
He was buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, and a lot of civil rights activists, leaders, politicians, and celebrities paid their tribute. After his death, Rachel formed a foundation in her husband’s name.