On July 23, 1962, Brooklyn Dodgers great Jackie Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Robinson received 77.5% (124 of 160) of all the ballots cast, earning him enshrinement on his first time appearing on the ballot.
In addition to Robinson, the 1962 Hall of Fame class included Bob Feller, Bill McKechnie and Edd Roush. Feller was also a first-ballot selection, marking the first time in baseball history that two first-ballot Hall of Famers were inducted the same year.
Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball when he debuted for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
He played 10 seasons with Brooklyn, finishing with a .311 career batting average to go along with 137 home runs and 197 stolen bases.
Robinson’s rookie year was a memorable one, as he took home National League Rookie of the Year honors. Just two years later he was named the NL MVP, hitting .342/.432/.528 with 16 home runs, 124 RBIs and 37 stolen bases during an impressive campaign.
The Pasadena, Calif., native was a six-time All-Star and part of the 1955 Dodgers World Series championship team. Robinson had his No. 42 jersey retired by the organization on June 4, 1972, and five years later his iconic No. 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball.
All players and on-field team personnel wear Robinson’s famed jersey number each year on April 15. He has been further honored by the Dodgers, who installed a statue on the Reserve level of Dodger Stadium, depicting Robinson’s historic slide into home plate.
The statue has since been moved to the renovated center field plaza at Dodger Stadium. Robinson’s statue was the first of its kind at Chavez Ravine, though it has since been accompanied by Sandy Koufax begin immortalized.
Robinson also has a statue in his honor at the Rose Bowl.
Jackie Robinson celebration during All-Star Game
The 2022 season marked the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier, and with the Dodgers hosting the All-Star Game, he was celebrated during a pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium.
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington led the tribute with a riveting speech from plate while dressed in Robinson’s iconic No. 42 Dodgers jersey.
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