Iconic Quotes by the Legendary Jackie Robinson
In the pantheon of the greatest baseball players of all time, Jackie Robinson is in a league of his own. Not only was he the very first African American to play in the MLB in the modern era when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he was a prominent figure of the civil rights movement, conducted himself with dignity and grace under immense pressure, and, of course, was a simply outstanding baseball player. He also left us with some truly great quotes about his philosophy, baseball, racism, and life in general.
Jackie Robinson may be best remembered today for breaking the color barrier, but it's easy to overlook just how incredible a baseball player he was. In his rookie season alone, he batted .297, scored 125 runs, and led the league with 29 stolen bases. During his career, he maintained a .311 batting average and was selected to six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954, and he won the National League MVP award in 1949.
He was a great all-around fielder as well, and excelled at first, second, and third bases as well as in the outfield. He was named the very first Rookie of the Year in 1947 (an award that's now named in his honor), and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. All MLB players wear his number 42 on April 15 (Jackie Robinson Day) every year, and his number is the only one that's been retired across all of baseball. He led the Dodgers to the World Series in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956, winning it with them in 1955.
Off the field, he used his platform to speak out about racial injustice and was a major figure of the civil rights movement. He was under extreme pressure during his playing career (especially in the beginning), and maintained dignity and grace in the face of historically monumental adversity.
These quotes give us a glimpse into the mind of this extraordinary baseball player and even more extraordinary man. You can find even more legendary baseball quotes here.
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
"Above anything else, I hate to lose."
"How you played in yesterday's game is all that counts."
"Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect."
"Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead."
"There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."
"Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life."
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being."
"It kills me to lose. If I'm a troublemaker, and I don't think that my temper makes me one, then it's because I can't stand losing. That's the way I am about winning, all I ever wanted to do was finish first."
"I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world."
"I don't like needing anyone for anything."
"Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead."
"The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time."
"There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free."
"When I am playing baseball, I give it all that I have on the ball field. When the ball game is over, I certainly don't take it home. My little girl who is sitting out there wouldn't know the difference between a third strike and a foul ball."
"The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity."
