A Gifted Athlete
Jackie Robinson
— Jackie Robinson Ballpark & Museum —
Jackie Robinson excelled as an all-round athlete. He demonstrated exceptional athletic ability from an early age, combined with a fierce competitive nature and a will to win.
Some have called Jackie Robinson the greatest American athlete, arguing that he was actually better at track and field, football and basketball than baseball. As a student at UCLA, Jackie Robinson became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball (1940), basketball (1940), football (1939 & 1940), track and field, (1940). In 1940, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Championship in long jump.
May 7, 1938: Pasadena Junior College
Jackie Robinson established a national junior college record in long jump with a jump of 25 feet 6 ½ inches.
Jackie Robinson was inducted into the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame on June 10, 1984, as a charter member and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Caption: Photo courtesy of the Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
Erected by Daytona Beach, Florida.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Sports.
Location. 29° 12.561′ N, 81° 1.004′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jackie Robinson Ballpark & Museum (here, next to this marker); Willie O’Ree (a few steps from this marker); Exceptional Athletic Ability (a few steps from this marker); Roberto Clemente (a few steps from this marker); Althea Gibson (within shouting distance of this marker); Sports Memories (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Beginnings (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackie Robinson (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daytona Beach.
Regarding A Gifted Athlete. This Daytona Beach Ballpark is named in honor of famed Major League Baseball player Jackie Robinson. In 1946, Daytona Beach was the only city along the spring season circuit to allow Robinson to play. This event helped Robinson to eventually break the color barrier in major league baseball.
On October 22, 1998, this stadium was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on September 20, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 21, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
