Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children and raised by a single mom in relative poverty. Jackie was very much inspired by his older brother Matthew, who won a silver medal in the 200-meter dash at the 1936 Olympic Games, to pursue his talent and passion for athletics. He attended John Muir High School and then went on to Pasadena Community College, where he played football, basketball, track, and baseball. From there, Jackie went on to the University of California, Los Angeles, where his time was cut short due to financial hardship.

Despite the fact that his academics were cut short, Jackie’s athletic career was not. On April 15, 1947, he became the first African-American athlete to play in the major leagues. He led in stolen bases and had an outstanding batting average, earning the honor of Rookie of the Year. In his decade-long career with the Dodgers, Jackie helped his team win the National League pennant several times. In 1955, he helped them achieve the greatest victory of all: the World Series.

Based on the passage, which facts would be most appropriate to include in a yearbook page about Jackie Robinson?

1.Jackie Robinson was one of five children raised in poverty.
2.Jackie Robinson had to leave the University of California.
3.Jackie Robinson’s brother won a silver medal in the Olympics.
4.Jackie Robinson helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series win.

1 answer

For a yearbook page about Jackie Robinson, the most appropriate facts to include would be:

  1. Jackie Robinson was one of five children raised in poverty. - This highlights his background and the challenges he overcame, which adds depth to his story.

  2. Jackie Robinson had to leave the University of California. - This detail provides context about the difficulties he faced, especially regarding financial hardship.

  3. Jackie Robinson’s brother won a silver medal in the Olympics. - This fact emphasizes the influence of his family and the inspiration he drew from his brother’s achievements.

  4. Jackie Robinson helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series win. - This is a significant highlight of his athletic career and showcases his contributions to baseball.

Overall, all four facts together present a comprehensive view of Jackie Robinson's life, challenges, inspirations, and accomplishments.