Welcome to another bonus episode of Calm History, an extra treat for my Soak Plus members.

The early struggles, multiple arrests, and shocking trial of the baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

On January 31st, 1919, of the baseball legend, Jackie Robinson.

On January 31, 1919, Jack Robinson, later to be called Jackie Robinson, was born in the

state of Georgia.

About a year later, he moved to Pasadena, California, with his mother and four siblings.

Jack Robinson's mother worked various odd jobs in Pasadena to support the family,

while little Jack struggled to be accepted within the mostly white neighborhood.

During high school in Pasadena, he excelled in football, basketball, track and field,

tennis, and of course, baseball.

After high school, he attended a local junior college and continued to play multiple sports.

He was such an impressive athlete in junior college that local sports writers highlighted him in newspapers.

And this is when Jack Robinson begins being called Jackie Robinson. The nickname was created and widely utilized by sports writers, which begs several questions. Question number one.

Where did the sports writers get this nickname from?

It wasn't from his family members.

He was always called Jack by his mother and siblings,

and also by his future wife.

It wasn't from Robinson himself.

There is significant evidence that he always wrote his name as Jack Robinson.

And this includes during high school, junior college,

and even later in the military, the baseball minor leagues, and all of his letters to family and friends.

Question number two.

...