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Jackie Robinson Posthumously Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor Nation's Highest Award Given to Baseball Legend Published February 15, 2006 by
W. Richard Reegan
US Government © US GovernmentDid you know?Over 3,400 medals have been awarded.
TakeawaysOne person can make a difference.The Congressional Gold medal is the nation's highest tribute.The first recipient of the medal was George Washington.Everyone held their breath. President George W. Bush was about to award the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the nation's highest tribute, posthumously, to baseball legend Jackie Robinson, his widow Rachel accepting. It was March 2, 2005. "His story is one that shows what one person can do to hold America account - to account to its founding promise of freedom and equality. It's a lesson for people coming up to see . One person can make a big difference in setting the tone of the country." President Bush proclaimed. The Congressional Gold Medal had its inception during the Revolution, George Washington being the first recipient. Congress commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Jackie Robinson was about to join the ranks of such people as Colin Powell, Rosa Parks and Ronald and Nancy Reagan, to name a few. Born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919, he was the youngest of five children. When he was 6-months old, his father deserted the family. Soon after, his mother realizing that there was no hope for blacks in the south, took the family to Pasadena, California. There she cleaned and did laundry for rich people. With the money she made, and a little help from public welfare, the family was able to go on. Poverty didn't bother Jackie Robinson. He was becoming interested in sports. He played football, baseball, basketball and ran track. In 1936 he went to the Olympics as a track star, and finished second to Jesse Owens. Eventually Robinson would go to UCLA. He became the first student ever to letter in four sports. In 1947 he became the first African American in history to sign with a major league baseball team. In the beginning, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers was anything but easy. When he took the field, some fans screamed vulgarities and racial remarks, threw things at him, and even issued death threats by mail. Some of his teammates threatened to quit. America was still steeped in prejudice. When they traveled Jackie Robinson had to sit in the back of the bus. He couldn't eat or stay at the same places as his team either. Yet, he endured. He went on to win the Rookie Of The Year Award. This award is now named after him. In his ten years with the Dodgers he was voted National League All star six times. In 1949 he won the National League Batting Title with a .342 average. He proved that baseball was America's past time, and that the focus was on the game, not the color of the players. He played first base, then second, then third, and finally the outfield. And oh how he played. He became the most popular baseball player in America. When 1956 rolled around, Jackie Robinson was traded to the Giants. In January 1957 he resigned. His health was going down hill, and all he wanted to be was a Dodger. His number, "42", was retired by every MLB team. In 1962 Jackie Robinson became the first African American in history to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died on October 24, 1972 in Stamford,Ct. User-generated content powered by
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