Jackie Robinson was the first black 20th Century major league baseball player. He signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league Montreal Royals in 1945, before joining the big club in 1947. Here are some of Jackie's career highlights:

 

• First Major League Rookie of the Year, 1947.
• National League's Most Valuable Player, 1949.
• National League batting champion with a .342 average in 1949.
• Stolen base leader in 1947 and 1949.
• Six-time National League All-Star, 1949 - 1954.

Jackie Robinson's playing career ended in 1956. He was voted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962, and was out of the game by 1964.

When baseball celebrated the 50th anniversary of Robinson's breakthrough in 1997, his number was retired by every major league team. Since 2004, every April 15th is celebrated in baseball as Jackie Robinson Day to acknowledge his social legacy to America and the world.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides four-year college scholarships to minority students who have a demonstrated record of academic distinction, leadership capacity, and financial need.

The foundation is currently supporting 266 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars attending 93 colleges and universities in 33 different American states and the District of Columbia.

March 31, 2006, is this year's application deadline for students to take advantage of the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship.