Jackie Robinson

Object Details

Exhibition Label: In 1947 Jackie Robinson forever changed professional sports by becoming the first African American player in major league baseball. A trailblazer for equal opportunity, Robinson endured torrents of abuse in his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Some of his own teammates mounted an abortive effort to have him dropped from the roster, while opponents and spectators alike taunted, heckled, and harassed him. Robinson steeled himself and responded with electrifying play that carried the Dodgers to a National League championship and earned him honors as Rookie of the Year. One of the top draws in baseball during ten memorable seasons, Robinson led the Dodgers to six pennants and one World Series title. He also paved the way for black major leaguers such as Willie Mays and Hank Aaron and remained a staunch advocate for civil rights after retiring from the game.

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh

1957

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image: 24.1 × 19 cm (9 1/2 × 7 1/2"); Sheet: 35.3 × 27.5 cm (13 7/8 × 10 13/16"); Mount: 40.7 × 33 cm (16 × 13"); Mat (Karsh exhibit): 55.9 × 40.6 cm (22 × 16")

National Portrait Gallery

Topic: Costume\Jewelry\Ring; Jackie Robinson: Male; Jackie Robinson: Military\Army\Officer; Jackie Robinson: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Executive; Jackie Robinson: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Baseball; Jackie Robinson: Congressional Gold Medal; Portrait

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm48f391536-eb44-430a-be73-7c73eaad6b64