Jackie Robinson History: April 15, 1997 - Baseball honors Jackie Robinson by retiring #42 for all teams July 14, 1987 - Rookie of the Year Award is renamed to honor Jackie Robinson October 24, 1972 - Jackie Robinson, 1st black baseball player, Brooklyn Dodgers, dies at 53 January 24, 1962 - Jackie Robinson is 1st Black elected to Baseball Hall of Fame January 5, 1957 - Dodgers' Jackie Robinson retires rather than be traded to New York Giants December 13, 1956 - Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000 Robinson retires October 8, 1953 - Birmingham Alabama, bars Jackie Robinson's Negro-White All-Stars from playing there Robinson gives in and drops white players from his group November 30, 1952 - Jackie Robinson charges New York Yankees with racism February 4, 1952 - 1st black executive of a major TV station (Jackie Robinson-WNBC New York) January 24, 1950 - Jackie Robinson signs highest contract ($35,000) in Dodger history November 18, 1949 - NL batting leader (.342) Jackie Robinson wins NL MVP September 19, 1947 - Jackie Robinson is named 1947 "Rookie of Year" September 17, 1947 - Jackie Robinson is named Rookie of Year by Sporting News June 24, 1947 - Jackie Robinson swipes home for 1st of 19 times in his career April 17, 1947 - Jackie Robinson bunts for his 1st major league hit April 11, 1947 - Jackie Robinson becomes 1st black in modern major-league baseball April 10, 1947 - Jackie Robinson becomes 1st black in major league baseball (Dodgers) April 18, 1946 - Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals February 10, 1946 - 1st black pro-baseball player Jackie Robinson marries Rachel Isum October 23, 1945 - Jackie Robinson signs Montreal Royal contract January 31, 1919 - Jackie Robinson, born in Georgia, 1st black major league baseball player, Dodgers
More Notable Events on April 15:
1983 Tokyo Disneyland opens
1969 North Korea shoots at U.S. airplane above Japanese sea
1955 Ray Kroc starts McDonald's chain of fast food restaurants in Illinois
1923 Insulin becomes generally available for diabetics
1850 City of San Francisco incorporated