Timeline

January 31: Jackie Roosevelt Robinson is born in Cairo, Georgia, the fifth, and last child of Mallie and Jerry Robinson.

Brother Mack Robinson wins an Olympic Silver second only to the great Jesse Owens in the 200 meter dash.

April: Robinson participates in the JC Track Championships in Pomona, CA where he seta a national junior-college AAU record in the broad jump. Subsequently, he races to Glendale and arrives at midgame to help Pasadena Junior College win the Championship in baseball by getting two hits and a stolen base.

September: Jackie Enrolls at UCLA and goes on to become the schools first 4-letter man.

After UCLA, Jackie was hired to play semi-pro football with the Honolulu Bears. Their first exhibition game was in Pearl Harbor. Jackie left Honolulu on December 5, 1941, just two days before the Japanese attacked. He was actually on the ship Lurline on his way home when Congress formally declared war.

Jackie has a tryout with the Chicago White Sox.

April 3: Jackie is inducted into the U.S. Army.

Jackie earns a promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in the Army.

April: Jackie becomes platoon leader of Company B of the 761st.

July 6: Jackie refused to move to the back of a military bus at Fort Hood, Texas.

August 2: Jackie faces a court-martial for his disobedience on July 6. He was acquitted on all charges.

November 28: Jackie accepts an Honorable Discharge from active duty in the military and returns home to California.

Spring: Jackie joins the Negro Baseball League and plays for the Kansas City Monarchs. He meets the great pitcher Satchel Paige and goes on to play on the American All Stars Team.
April 16: Jackie has a tryout with the Boston Red Sox. Neither the manager nor the players showed up for Jackie's "tryout."

August 28: Jackie meets with Branch Rickey of the Dodgers and agrees to join the Dodger Organization.

October 23: Jackie signs a contract to play with the Montreal Royals of the International League. He received a $3,500 bonus and $600 per month salary.

February 10: Jackie and Rachel Isum are married at the Independent Church in Los Angeles.
Spring: Jackie and Rachel arrive in Daytona Beach for Spring Training. Here he meets John Wright, another African American on the Montreal Roster. The Montreal Royals team is locked-out of the Ballpark in Sanford because of Jackie and John's presence on the team.

Jackie plays his first professional baseball game for the Montreal Royals at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. Joe Cummiskey of the Jersey Journal wrote: "Jackie Robinson, first Negro player ever to play in organized baseball, broke in yesterday with the Montreal Royals - and with a bang. He smashed out four hits in five times up-a homer with two men on base and three singles. He stole two bases, drove in four runs, and scored from third twice by forcing Jersey City's pitchers into balks. Montreal won 14-1."

Montreal wins league: The Montreal Royals win the International League by 19 1/2 games and go on to win the Little World Series against the winners of the American Association the Louisville Colonels. Jackie finished the year as the International League batting champion, compiling a .349 average in 124 games.

November 18: Jackie Robinson and Rachel have their first child, Jackie Robinson Jr.

February: Both the Dodgers and the Montreal Royals hold their spring training in Havana, Cuba.

April 10: The Brooklyn Dodgers announce the purchase of the contract of Jack Roosevelt Robinson from Montreal.

April 15: Jackie makes his big-league debut against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. On this day, Jackie grounds out against Johnny Sain in his first at-bat. He goes 0-3 and scores a run.

May 9: A strike threatened by the St.Louis Cardinals is abruptly stopped by National League President Ford Frick (right) who stated "...The National League will go down the line with Robinson, whatever the consequence."

July 5: The Cleveland Indians announce the signing of 22-year old outfielder, Larry Doby of the Newark Eagles.

August 27: The Dodgers bring up a second black player, 27-year old Dan Bankhand, a strikeout pitcher from the Memphis Red Sox.

September 23: With Permission for the Dodgers, Jackie's admirers stage a Jackie Robinson Day for him at Ebbets Field where he and Rachel are presented with a new Cadillac. Jackie is also presented with a interracial goodwill plaque from Jack Semel, a season box holder and supporter. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, a great entertainer, presented Jackie with an inscribed gold wristwatch from Tiffany's, which he cherished and always wore. The Robinson's also received a television and cash gifts that day.

October: Jackie is voted the first ever major league Rookie of the Year. Two years later they would give one to a member of each league. Jackie also finished fifth in the National League's Most Valuable Player voting.

July 12: Jackie joins Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Larry Doby as the first African Americans to play in an All-Star Game.

July 18: Jackie testifies before the House Un-American Activities Committee about the role of blacks in the military.

October: Jackie is named the National League Most Valuable Player. He wins the batting title by batting .342, with 203 hits, 124 RBI's and 37 stolen bases.