Jackie Robinson: Before the Dodgers, a 4-sport star at UCLA

Jackie Robinson: Before the Dodgers, a 4-sport star at UCLA


Jackie Robinson: Before the Dodgers, a 4-sport star at UCLA

Jackie Robinson was an exceptional athlete and civil rights leader. April 15, 1947, he interrupted the color barrier in Major League baseball when he got to the first base for Brooklyn Dodgers. Major League Baseball celebrates this pioneering day every 15 April.

Robinson died in 1972 at the age of 53, but his legacy lives for decades. Each MLB team went to jersey No. 42 and on the anniversary of their first performance for Dodgers wears each player MLB number for “Jackie Robinson Day”.

In his ten-year career in Baseball, Robinson was a newcomer of the year, the MVP of the National League, the NL champion, the world series champion, six-time All-Star and twice led the league in stolen foundations. In 1962 he was introduced to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

But before Robinson broke the records and barriers in the ranks, he was a star at the University of California, Los Angeles. Here is a view of his university career.

Robinson at UCLA: Bruins wears No. 42 hats | Robinson’s number retired

Jackie Robinson starts at a junior college

Robinson was born in Cairo in Georgia, but his family moved to Pasadena in California in 1920. After high school, Robinson enrolled in Pasaden Junior College-Fine Pasaden City College-A was four sports star in baseball, football, basketball and track and fields. According to California Community Colleges websiteRobinson detonated 0.417 with 43 runs scored in 24 games for the school in 1938. On the football field still owns a school record for the longest SCrimmage run, 99 yards.

Baseball is fighting on UCLA

Robinson entered UCLA in 1939 and was the winner of four sports in football, basketball, track and field and baseball. But in a sport that would become famous, Robinson fought. According to the school websiteIn 1940, Robinson published a branding average of 0.097 for Bruins. Despite his pain pain, Robinson remained in the line -up because of his expertise and speed along the basic road – stole the home board 19 times. Robinson’s best university baseball game was probably his first in UCLA, where he had four hits and stole four bases, including home twice.

GRIDiron Star

Although most people are aware of Robinson’s successes on a baseball diamond, they may not know he was also a fairly phenomenal footballer. In fact, football could be his best sport as a college athlete. In 1939, he set a school record for Yards for the 12.2 season, which took place until 2022. In 1940 he led Bruins in the passage (444 Yards), rushed (383 yards) and scoring (36 points).

In this 1939 team, Robinson was one of the four African American players for Bruins, which made him the most integrated main college team at the time. This team was undefeated with six wins and four draws. They trained Babe Horrell, were seventh in the final survey AP. Robinson gained an All-Pac-10.

Stellar in Hoops

Robinson was also a solid basketball player, although he was shorter than many players on 5 feet-11. Robinson was appointed West Coast Conference MVP in basketball for UCLA. In one game, 12 February 1940, Stanford set fire to 25 points. In 1940 and 11.1 points per game in 1941 in 1940 on 12.4 points per game – most of the player in the southern division of the Pacific Coast Conference conference both years.

Records of records in the trail and field

Robinson remains the only athlete of UCLA who has ever corresponded in four sports. Most of the 1940 season disappeared due to his baseball duties, but won the titles Pacific Coast Conference and NCAA in a long jump with jumps 25-0 and 24-10. If the Olympic Games were not abolished in 1940 and 1944, Robinson could probably compete.

The name lives in stadiums

Between his university days at UCLA and the beginning of his professional baseball career, Robinson was developed and served in the army. Robinson was placed for a while in Fort Hood, TX The base was appointed in 2016 His softball field behind him. In 1981, UCLA opened its new baseball park, Jackie Robinson Stadium and a 42 -inch statue located near the entrance and the school also named its recreational and athletic facilities.

There is also a stadium in the Daytona Beach, FL named after it, Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Robinson played in the city during the spring training in 1946 with Montreal Royals. Today, the stadium is home to the associated company Cincinnati Reds Single-A, Dayton Tortugas and Bethune-Cookman College.




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