Jackie Robinson at a glance
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, and made his historic Major League Baseball debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, at age 28. He played his final MLB season in 1956 at age 37. Robinson was 42 when he died on October 24, 1972. This profile clarifies his age at pivotal moments and explains why his exact age matters for understanding both his athletic peak and his civil rights impact.
Biographical overview and why age matters
Clarifying Jackie Robinson’s age at key points provides a timeline that helps contextualize his athletic achievements and his broader influence on civil rights. Age affects how we interpret his endurance on the field, his timing as a pioneer breaking baseball’s color barrier, and the physical and mental demands of the roles he accepted under intense scrutiny. Reliable dates and ages anchor assessments of his performance, leadership, and legacy.
Key dates and ages
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 31, 1919 | Biographical records |
| MLB debut | April 15, 1947 (age 28) | Official MLB archives |
| Rookie of the Year | 1947 season (age 28) | MLB award records |
| World Series champion | 1955 (age 36) | MLB championship records |
| Final MLB season | 1956 (age 37) | Official MLB archives |
| Date of death | October 24, 1972 (aged 42) | Obituary and biographical sources |
Age during his playing career
Robinson was 28 when he debuted in 1947, entering the league with the physical maturity of a late-developing athlete who had already built strength and experience in the military and in the Negro Leagues. By 32, he had earned Rookie of the Year honors and quickly became a cornerstone of the Dodgers. At 36, he won the 1955 World Series, completing his rise to a leader on a championship team. In his final season at 37, he maintained discipline and influence while navigating the physical decline common in professional sports.
Life stages off the field
Beyond games played, Robinson’s age frames his civil rights work, executive career, and public voice. After retiring from baseball, he remained active in business and activism through his 30s and 40s. In his 50s, he continued advocating for equality, testifying before Congress in 1970 at about age 51. His age at death, 42, reflects the toll of health struggles, yet his ideas persisted long after his body weakened.
Contextualizing age in performance and impact
Age intersects with performance metrics, leadership presence, and historical timing in ways that deepen how we remember Robinson. He was neither the youngest nor the oldest among elite athletes, but the specific ages at which he debuted, won, and retired shape how historians assess sustainability and influence. Understanding his age helps separate myth from measurable achievement and clarifies how each phase of his life informed the next.
Comparative perspective
Compared to peers who entered the majors in different eras, Robinson’s career arc appears compressed yet extraordinarily concentrated. His major-league window aligned with both athletic prime and cultural transformation, making his age at each milestone a useful reference point for comparing him to later players who faced different physical and social demands.
Enduring relevance of dates and ages
Correct dates and ages matter for accuracy in education, commemoration, and media. Misstating when Robinson debuted, won championships, or passed away can distort the timeline of civil rights progress and baseball history. Precision supports thoughtful discussion of both his limits and his achievements.