Early Life Jack Roosevelt Robionson, who we know by Jackie Robinson was the first African American Major League Baseball player. Jackie was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five kids. They later moved to Pasadena, California in 1920. Jackies family grew up in poverty and his mother had several jobs to try and support the family.

Jackies brother Matt noticed that Jackie had alot of potential in athletics and convinced him to try playing sports. Matt was right, Jackie played for varsity in several sports including baseball and football. He won several championships growing up. Jackie was a star child. He excelled in the sports he played, was named MVP several times and was selected as being one of the most outstanding students.

After finishng school in Pasadena Juinor College Jackie went to UCLA, being the first to win varsity letters in four sports. He was only one of four African Americans on the UCLA football team.

Jackie then travelled to Honolulu in 1941 to play football for the s Honolulu Bears. He then returned to California in December 1941 to play as a running back for the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Football League. By then World War 2 had started and his career for football was over. Because of the war, Jackie was drafted to serve in 1942.