Jackie Robinson tragically passed away in his North Stamford, Connecticut home on October 24, 1972, due to a heart attack. He was born on Jan. 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Robinson was the youngest of five children, and his family moved to Pasadena, Calif. early in his life in 1920.
Robinson is survived by his wife Rachel, daughter Sharon and son David. He also had another son named Jackie Jr., who passed away in 1971. Rachel founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation after her husband’s death, and that continues to this day.
Doctors attributed Robinson’s death at just 53 years old to complications from diabetes. The heart attack that took Robinson’s life was his third since 1968, and he was aware of having diabetes for 20 years.
Robinson’s health had been in decline as he suffered from lost vision, high blood pressure, arthritis and pain in his legs, among other ailments.
After starring at John Muir High School and UCLA, Robinson began his professional baseball career in 1945 when he signed a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues.
Brooklyn Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey first expressed interest in signing Robinson shortly after, and by 1946, he reported to Dayton Beach, Florida, for Spring Training.
In Robinson’s first Minor League season with the Dodgers, he was named the MVP of the International League, hitting .349.
Robinson then famously broke MLB’s color barrier by making his Dodgers debut on April 15, 1947. He earned Rookie of the Year honors that season and went on to be named to six All-Star teams over a 10-year career with Brooklyn.
Robinson was named MVP in 1949 and also won a batting title that year. Robinson helped guide the Dodgers to a World Series championship in 1955 and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
The Dodgers traded Robinson to the New York Giants on December of 1956, but he elected to retire at the age of 37 rather than joining a longtime rival.
Dodgers celebrate Jackie Robinson
On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired Robinson’s No. 42, alongside those of Roy Campanella (No. 39) and Sandy Koufax (32). MLB decided to retire Robinson’s jersey number throughout the entire sport in 1997.
MLB celebrates “Jackie Robinson Day” on April 15 every year, and all players across the league wear his No. 42 on that day only.
In 2017, the Dodgers unveiled a Jackie Robinson statue at Dodger Stadium on the reserve level, and it since has been moved to the renovated center field plaza.
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