There is no question: Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer. Had he only played his rookie season where he integrated Major League Baseball, that would have been enough of an accomplishment, but he had a remarkable life both on and off of the field. On the field, his accomplishments included Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, six championships, and a World Series (via Britannica). According to MLB, he finished his career with some impressive stats: 137 home runs, 734 RBIs, 197 stolen bases, and a .311 batting average. Off the field, he demonstrated his mental toughness as well, enduring and overcoming significant hate and racism whether during his upbringing, his time in the U.S. Army, or throughout his adult life afterward. 

Jackie Robinson has since been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, had his jersey number of 42 retired by the league, and in 2004, April 15 was officially established as Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball (per Biography). In 2004, he received the Congressional Gold Medal, which was accepted by his wife Rachel (via Congress). 

Since 1973, Rachel Robinson — a centenarian as of July 2022 — has continued to carry on Jackie’s legacy by establishing and helping run the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides scholarships and leadership programs for young people. The organization has also spearheaded the creation of a Jackie Robinson Museum which opens to the public in New York City in Summer 2022. 

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