Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues, playing second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. He broke the color barrier in baseball and faced racial discrimination, but had a successful career with a .311 batting average, 1,518 hits, and 137 home runs. Jackie Robinson received several awards including Rookie of the Year and NL MVP, helping pave the way for integration in professional sports.