Jackie Robinson Trivia Questions

Robinson played in six World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning the championship in 1955 against the Yankees.

He was elected in his first year of eligibility with 77.5% of the vote, a testament to his impact on and off the field.

Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947, but his MVP season came in 1949, when he led the league in batting average and stolen bases.

April 15, 1947 was his first MLB game. But Jackie Robinson Day is actually celebrated on April 15 each year, so this statement is true? Wait—this is tricky: it IS true. Let me correct: It's true. I'll change.

Jackie Robinson batted right-handed and threw right-handed. This is a common mix-up with some other players who were cross-dominant.

Robinson lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track at UCLA, and was the first athlete there to earn varsity letters in four sports.

Robinson played one season with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945, hitting .387, before being signed by Branch Rickey for the Dodgers' organization.

He debuted with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, ending MLB's 60-year segregation, though some Negro League players preceded him in earlier integrated leagues.

Robinson played in six World Series, but only won one (1955). The Dodgers appeared in the Fall Classic in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956.

He played for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. He was traded to the New York Giants in 1956 but retired rather than report to the team.

MLB universally retired #42, but a grandfather clause allowed players like Mariano Rivera to continue wearing it until they retired.

He was inducted in his first year of eligibility, receiving 77.5% of the vote. He was the first Black player enshrined in Cooperstown.

Mack Robinson won silver in the 200m dash, finishing behind Jesse Owens. Jackie grew up in a family of elite athletes.

Several Black players preceded him in pro football and basketball. Jackie broke the MLB color barrier, not all sports.

He was drafted and assigned to a segregated cavalry unit at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later faced a court-martial for refusing to move to the back of a bus.

In 1944, Robinson refused to move to the back of a military bus and was court-martialed for insubordination. He was acquitted, but the incident foreshadowed his later civil rights battles.

Number 42 was retired league-wide in 1997, but not before—players already wearing it, like Mariano Rivera, were grandfathered in.

Robinson served in the U.S. Army during WWII, but was court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a bus—he was acquitted.

While Moses Fleetwood Walker played in 1884, Robinson is considered the first in the modern era after the color line was formally established in 1887.

Robinson lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track at UCLA, making him one of the most versatile athletes in college history.

Robinson was a second lieutenant. He faced a court-martial for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus, but was acquitted.

Robinson stole home 19 times, but Ty Cobb holds the career record with 54. Robinson's 19 is not the all-time record.

Robinson played for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1956, but was traded to the New York Giants before the 1957 season. He retired rather than report to the Giants.

At UCLA, Robinson lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track. He was the first athlete there to earn varsity letters in four sports.

In 1997, MLB universally retired number 42, making it the first number retired across all teams. Players already wearing it could keep it until retirement.

His first game was on April 15, 1947, but it was at home against the Boston Braves. The date is now celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.

In 1949, Robinson led the NL in batting average (.342) and stolen bases, winning MVP. He also won the batting title that year.

He was elected in 1962, his first year of eligibility, with 77.5% of the vote, a clear first-ballot honor.

The number was retired across all MLB teams in 1997, 25 years after his retirement, on the 50th anniversary of his debut.

Robinson broke MLB's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Moses Fleetwood Walker played in 1884, but Robinson is credited as the modern-era first.

Number 42 was retired in 1997 to honor Robinson breaking the color barrier. He won MVP in 1949, but that alone didn't trigger the league-wide retirement.

Robinson was the first UCLA athlete to letter in all four sports. He actually considered football his best sport and was an All-American halfback.

In 1944, Robinson refused to move to the back of a military bus at Fort Hood, Texas. He faced a court-martial but was acquitted.

He was VP of personnel at Chock full o'Nuts coffee company and later helped found the Freedom National Bank. He also served on the NAACP board.

Moses Fleetwood Walker played in the majors in 1884, decades before Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Robinson was the first in the modern era.

He was the first UCLA athlete to letter in four sports. He later said baseball was his worst sport in college.

MLB retired 42 league-wide. Existing players like Mariano Rivera were grandfathered in; Rivera was the last to wear it in 2013.

Robinson batted right-handed and threw right-handed. He was naturally ambidextrous but primarily used his right arm for throwing.

Robinson lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track at UCLA, making him one of the most versatile athletes in college history.

Moses Fleetwood Walker played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, decades before Robinson. Robinson broke MLB's modern color barrier in 1947.

At UCLA, Robinson was the first athlete to letter in four sports. He was an All-American in football and even led the nation in punt return average.

MLB retired 42 in 1997, but players who wore it then (like Jeter) were grandfathered in. Jeter was the last to wear it regularly, until 2013.

Mack Robinson won silver in the 200 meters at the Berlin Olympics. He was a track star himself, and Jackie often said Mack was the better athlete.

Robinson was a lifelong Republican who supported Nixon over Kennedy, though he later criticized Nixon and became more independent.

Robinson famously stole home in Game 1 of the 1955 World Series, but others have done it too—most notably Babe Ruth (though not in the World Series). It's rare but not unique.

Mack Robinson won silver in the 200 meters at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, just behind Jesse Owens. Jackie often credited Mack's athleticism as an inspiration.

Robinson was a lifelong Republican who supported Nixon in 1960 due to civil rights stances, though he later criticized both parties.

He played baseball, football, basketball, and track. He did not box at UCLA, though he was a strong all-around athlete.

The Rookie of the Year award existed before 1947. Robinson won it that year, but he wasn't the first recipient.

He co-founded the Freedom National Bank in Harlem in 1964, a Black-owned bank that operated until 1990.

The award was then called the 'J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award,' but it is retroactively recognized as the first official Rookie of the Year honor.

In 1964, Robinson co-founded Freedom National Bank in Harlem, a black-owned bank that served the community until 1990. He also served on the board of the NAACP.

In 1944, Robinson refused to move to the back of a segregated bus at Fort Hood, Texas. He was court-martialed but acquitted.

Robinson was inducted in 1962, but not in his first year. He received 77.5% of the vote, falling just short of the 75% threshold on his first ballot.

Robinson was drafted in 1942 and became a second lieutenant. He faced a court-martial for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus, but was acquitted.

Robinson was drafted in 1942. He faced a court-martial in 1944 for refusing to move to the back of a military bus, but was acquitted and never deployed overseas.

Rachel Robinson was a nurse and educator, not a tennis pro. She later became a prominent civil rights advocate and founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Moses Fleetwood Walker played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, 63 years before Robinson. Robinson broke the modern color barrier in 1947.

In 1964, Robinson co-founded the Freedom National Bank in Harlem. He also served on the NAACP board and worked actively for civil rights after retiring.

Robinson was a lifelong Republican until later in life. He supported Nixon in 1960 but grew disillusioned and backed Hubert Humphrey in 1968.

Moses Fleetwood Walker played in the majors in 1884, before the color line was drawn. Robinson broke the modern color barrier in 1947.

He played his entire MLB career with the Dodgers, but he was traded to the New York Giants after the 1956 season. He retired rather than report to the Giants.