Jackie Robinson was a true pioneer who paved the way for black Americans to play in the major leagues. Robinson was certainly a player of big league caliber. In his 10 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had a lifetime batting average of .311, while averaging 151 hits and 73 RBIs each season. In 1947, his first year, he led the NL in stolen bases, batted .296 and hit 12 homers as he earned Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Two seasons later, he topped NL hitters with .342 and led the League in his, stolen bases and sacrifices while scoring 122 runs and driving in 124. He was chosen the NL's Most Valuable Player for the season.

More importantly, though, were the barriers he was breaking down. Until Robinson first appeared in a Dodger uniform, a black man had not played in the major leagues since 1884, or if he did, the management claimed he was an Indian or a Cuban or anything but a black man.

Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey wanted to put an end to the practice and sent scouts searching for that unique individual who had the proper skills and yet had the patience of a man of fortitude. In Robinson, they found a superior athlete who was a four-sport star at Muir High in Pasadena, Calif., where he grew up, and later at UCLA. The 5' 11", 200-lb Robinson served as an Army lieutenant during World War II and afterward joined the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro baseball team. It was there that Dodger scout Clyde Sukeforth found him.

As for being a man of character, the story is told how Robinson met with Rickey, and the Brooklyn GM was putting into words all the slurs and taunts Jackie would hear on the field. Robinson asked Rickey if he was looking for a man with guts enough to fight back. Rickey replied that he was looking for a man with enough guts not to fight back.

Jackie Robinson was that man, and in 1962, he was voted into the baseball Hall of Fame.

JACKIE ROBINSON Born Jan. 31, 1919, in Pasadena, Calif.

AWARDS AND RECORDS
NL Rookie-of-the-Year, 1947
NL Most Valuable Player, 1949
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, 1962

Photo: Jackie at a training session