Life Before the Major Leagues

Jackie was born on January 31, 1919.  He was the youngest of five children in his family.  In 1920, his family moved to Pasadena, California.  He graduated from high school and junior college and then attended UCLA.  While he attended UCLA, he lettered in all 4 sports he played.  They included football, baseball, basketball and track.  He also excelled in others, such as swimming and tennis.  He was regarded as the finest all-around athlete in the United States at that time.

After he attended UCLA, Jackie was drafted into the Army in 1942.  He was in the Army for 3 years.  He served in Kansas and Texas. 

After he left the Army, he wanted to play baseball.  He played in the Negro leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs for only a year before he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, this marked the end of segregation in baseball.  During this time, Jackie married Rachel Isum and had 3 children; Jackie Jr, Sharon and David.

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