 
Senate Resolution No. 366
 
BY: Senator PERSAUD
 
        COMMEMORATING   the   100th   Birthday  of  Jackie
        Robinson, a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers known for
        breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball
 
  WHEREAS, It is with noble admiration and pride that this Legislative
Body joyfully pays just recognition to those  respected  athletes  whose
bravery,  skill  and quiescent dignity brought extraordinary humanity to
both the game of baseball and society, contributing to  the  integration
of that sport; and
 
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body is justly proud to commemorate the
100th Birthday of Jackie Robinson, a  member  of  the  Brooklyn  Dodgers
known for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball; and
 
  WHEREAS,  On  April  15,  1947,  Jackie  Robinson  became  the first
African-American to play in  a  Major  League  Baseball  game,  when  he
started  at  first  base  for  the  Brooklyn  Dodgers against the Boston
Braves; and
 
  WHEREAS, Born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, Jack Roosevelt
Robinson, or Jackie as he was known, was  raised  along  with  his  four
brothers and sisters by his mother in Pasadena, California; and
 
  WHEREAS,  An  athlete of outstanding physical skills with a burning,
single-minded  desire  for  victory,  Jackie   Robinson   attended   the
University  of  California,  Los  Angeles, where he won an unprecedented
four varsity letters in four different sports: track, football, baseball
and basketball; and
 
  WHEREAS, During World War II, Jackie Robinson enlisted in the United
States Army where he rose to the  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant  and  was
honorably discharged after two years; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Upon  the  completion  of  his  military  service,  Jackie
Robinson began playing with  the  Kansas  City  Monarchs  of  the  Negro
National League; he was later signed to a major league baseball contract
by  Branch Rickey and assigned to the Dodgers' Montreal farm team of the
International League in 1946; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1947, at the age  of  28,  Jackie  Robinson  joined  the
Brooklyn  Dodgers  of  the National League and led the team to its first
pennant since 1941; during the season, he hit .297, scored 125 runs, and
led the league in stolen bases with 29, and  was  named  Rookie  of  the
Year; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Instrumental  in  leading  the Dodgers to six World Series
appearances in 10 years, Jackie Robinson was named Most Valuable  Player
in 1949, when he led the league in batting and stolen bases; and
 
  WHEREAS,  For a time when Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers, he
resided at 5224 Tilden Avenue; today, this home is known as  the  Jackie
Robinson  House  and  is  listed  on  the  National Register of Historic
Places; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,  Jackie  Robinson  retired  from  baseball in 1957, and was
elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in  1962,
a  fitting climax to an illustrious career that triumphed over adversity
and led the way for other African-American baseball players to  emulate;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired his No. 42 uniform in
on-field ceremonies at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California; all of
Major League Baseball saluted him in 1997, on the  50th  Anniversary  of
his  breaking the color barrier, and retired his number permanently from
the game; and
 
  WHEREAS, It is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  commend
individuals  of  historical  significance  who  have  contributed to the
richness and ethnic diversity of the history of New York State  and  our
Nation; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Birthday of  Jackie  Robinson,  a  member  of  the
Brooklyn  Dodgers  known  for breaking the color barrier in Major League
Baseball; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Jackie Robinson.
Commemorating the 100th Birthday of Jackie Robinson

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