Jackie Robinson Last Words – The tragic death of Jackie Robinson Jr., who was killed just 16 months before his famous father died
After all the hardships Jackie Robinson had to overcome in the MLB, the second baseman had to deal with the death of his oldest son, Jackie Robinson Jr.
Jackie Robinson Last Words
Jackie Robinson faced many hardships in his life. As the first black player in MLB’s modern era, he handled countless race incidents, first with the Montreal Royals in Triple-A and then with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the majors.
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Despite all the problems he encountered, Robinson persevered. The Georgia native refused to give in to hate and handled his entire career with unparalleled dignity and class. Robinson became one of baseball’s greatest players, winning Rookie of the Year in 1947, National League MVP in 1949 and a World Series championship in 1955.
However, with all the hardships that come with being the first black player in the MLB, it probably pales in comparison to the pain he felt when his oldest son Jackie Robinson Jr. Died in a car accident in June 1971.
Robinson Jr. Born on November 9, 1946, just over five months before Jackie Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson Jr. Dealt with many emotional issues as a child and attended special education in early childhood. In search of a disciplined environment, he left high school to join the army.
Robinson Jr. He spent three years in the Army and served part of that time in Vietnam, the Seattle Times reported. On November 19, 1965, he was wounded in a fight, taking a bullet while trying to help a fellow soldier, who later died. After his release, he became addicted to drugs. His parents believe it started when he was in Vietnam.
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However, like his father, Robinson Jr. Overcame difficulties. He spent two years cleaning at Daytop Home Rehabilitation Center in Connecticut, where he later became assistant regional director. In that role, he often spoke to youth groups about the dangers of drug use, an act that Robinson Sr. Received.
On June 17, 1971, Robinson Jr. was killed in an automobile accident in Norwalk, Connecticut. The New York Times reported that he was speeding on his way to his parents’ home in Stamford when he crashed into a fence and into a ditch on the Merritt Parkway near Route 123.
Robinson Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother David identified his body at a nearby hospital a short time later. Robinson Sr. had left his home to fetch his wife from a conference he was attending in Massachusetts. At the time, Rachel was an assistant professor of psychology at Yale.
On October 24, 1972, just over 16 months after losing his son, Robinson Sr. died at his home of a heart attack. The 53-year-old suffered complications from diabetes and heart disease for years, which left him almost completely blind. More than 2,500 people attended his funeral. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson died 50 years ago on October 24, 1972. The first black player to sign in the major leagues, Robinson was a force on and off the field. Chosen by Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who decided to integrate baseball into the major leagues.
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Scouring the Negro Leagues for talent, Rickey found Robinson a man who would break baseball’s color barrier. Robinson was a UCLA star in football, baseball, basketball and track, he served in World War II and was a player prominent with Kansas City. Monarchs, a team in the Negro Leagues. Robinson signed with the Montreal Royals on October 23, 1945. On April 10, 1947, his contract was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In his 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Robinson hit .311, won the Rookie of the Year award in 1947 and the National League MVP in 1949. In 1956, Robinson became the first black player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Under severe abuse from opposing players and fans, Robinson kept his faith in humanity but did not shy away from a fair fight. He wrote: “I can’t stand and sing praises. I cannot salute the flag; I know I’m a black man in a white world. In 1972, in 1947, in my birth in 1919, I knew I never made it.” He responded after retirement by joining the fight to continue racial equality.
On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired Robinson’s number, 42. On April 15, 1997, the number 42 was retired by Major League Baseball in honor of the name. Since 2004, any MLB player can don the number 42 on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day, to celebrate the man and his legacy.
Jackie Robinson, a four-sport standout for UCLA from 1939-1941 in football, baseball, basketball and track and field in his basketball uniform in this unedited photo. Robinson is a resident of Pasadena, California. (AP Photo)
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This Sept. 20, 1939 file photo shows Jackie Robinson during football practice on the campus of the University of California in Westwood, California. (AP Photo)
Montreal, Oct. 23 (AP) – The first black player ever drafted into baseball was signed tonight by the Brooklyn Dodgers to their International League farm club, the Montreal Royals.
Jackie Robinson, one-time UCLA quarterback and former shortstop for the Kansas City Negro Monarchs, put his signature on a contract that called for not only a regular player’s salary, but also a signing bonus.
The product of a three-year, $25,000 search for Negro diamond talent by Dodger branch president Rickey, Robinson signed on in a history-making pile with Hector Racine and Lt. Col. Romeo Gavreau, president and vice president, respectively, of the Royals, and Branch Rickey Jr., who runs the Brooklyn farm system.
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“Mr. Racine and my father,” said the younger Rickey in a startling announcement, “will no doubt be severely criticized in some parts of the United States where racial prejudice is rampant. They did not cause the problem, but they will not avoid it. If it comes down to it, Jack Robinson is a fine, intelligent, collegial young fellow, and I think he can handle it too.”
Montreal Royals Jackie Robinson poses on April 18, 1946. Robinson broke the color barrier and changed baseball forever. (AP Photo/John J. Lent)
Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the major leagues, signed a contract with the Montreal Royals in Montreal on October 23, 1945. From left are: Royals President Hector Racine, Branch Rickey Jr., Robinson and Royals Vice President Romeo Gauvreau. (AP Photo)
Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson returns an autograph book to a fan in the stands during a Dodgers training camp in Ciudad Trujillo, now Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 6, 1948. (AP Photo)
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Jackie Robinson, signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and assigned to the Montreal club, shakes hands with his bride, the former Rachel Isum in Los Angeles, Feb. 26, 1946. The couple announced in Los Angeles that they were married on Feb. 10, 1946. (AP Photo/Ed Widdis)
Third baseman Joh Jorgensen (left), purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Montreal Royals of the International League, joined the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, in time to start at third base in the season opener against Boston. The Dodger outfield (left to right) includes Jorgensen, Pee Wee Reese, second baseman Ed Stanky and first baseman Jackie Robinson, all of whom played in the opening game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
Brooklyn Dodgers president Rickey Branch, right, and team rookie Jackie Robinson meet at the annual Chicago Baseball Writers Association banquet in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 18, 1948. (AP Photo)
In this photo sequence, Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Dick Sisler is forced to second, but his slide breaks up a double play in the fourth inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, October 1, 1950. During the slide, Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson is knocked off his feet and also moves to first to catch Phillies right fielder Del Ennis, who is bound for Dodgers Billy Cox. in the third. The Phils won 4-1, winning the National League Championship. (AP Photo)
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Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson, center, is caught in the middle between New York Yankees pitcher Frank Shea, left, and shortstop Phil Rizzuto as he tries for third base in the opening game of the 1947 World Series at Yankee Stadium in. Bronx, New York, September 30, 1947. Robinson was tagged by Rizzuto. (AP Photo)
Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto runs over the head of Dodger first baseman Jackie Robinson at second base in the first inning of Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, New York, October 5, 1947. At left is the Yankee second baseman, George Stirnweiss. . (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson steals home plate as Boston Braves catcher Bill Salkeld is knocked off balance by pitcher Bill Voiselle during a throw at the plate
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