It's Jackie Robinson Day in the 2022 MLB season, which means it's time to honor a man who forever changed the trajectory of baseball history. The first African American man to play baseball in the major leagues, Robinson broke the color barrier 75 years ago when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. As many know, the Dodgers legend was met with animosity from fans and opposing players, though the strong-willed Robinson endured and became a part of American history in the process.

By now, many know certain facts about Robinson. He was signed to the Dodgers by general manager Branch Rickey, whose name has become famous as a part of Robinson's story. Robinson was an excellent all-around ballplayer, securing the National league MVP Award in 1949. He was a track star at UCLA and was known for his blazing speed long before he became known for his stolen base prowess in the big leagues. However, there are certain things that people might not know about Robinson. What better time to explore interesting aspects of Robinson's life and career in the majors than on the day named in honor of him.

That said, here are five things you might not know about Jackie Robinson.

5 Things You Might Not Know About Jackie Robinson

5. Robinson's brother Mack was a track star

Jackie Robinson was an accomplished track star, but he might not have been the most talented runner in his own family. His brother Mack was also an equally talented athlete who ran track and excelled as a sprinter. In 1936, with Adolf Hitler watching, Robinson won the silver medal in the 200-meter dash, breaking the Olympic record. Unfortunately for Robinson's place in history, Jesse Owens was just a little bit faster on that day. Robinson went on to break records at Pasadena Junior College, where Jackie later attended. Mack Robinson set the standard for athletic excellence in the Robinson family, which Jackie quickly followed.

4. Baseball might not have even been Robinson's best sport

Yes, Jackie Robinson went professional as a baseball player. However, it wasn't the sport he gravitated to at first. The Dodgers legend was an explosive running back on the football field, so lethal that he prompted opposing Stanford head coach Clark Shaughnessy to say that he was “the most dangerous man he had ever seen in football”, per Joe Posnanski of The Athletic. Robinson's UCLA teams were never very good, but it sure wasn't his fault. He was known to take the ball 60 to 75 yards down the field multiple times a game and was a nightmare to defend. Not only that, but Robinson was a basketball star. He led the Pacific Coast Conference's Southern Division in scoring twice and even joined a racially integrated professional basketball team called the Los Angeles Red Devils. He may have made a name for himself as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, but Robinson was such a gifted athlete that he could have played just about any sport he wanted.

3. Robinson didn't play baseball professionally until he was 26

Robinson made his major league debut with the Dodgers when he was 28 years old. By today's standards, that's an “old rookie.” The Dodgers legend actually didn't start playing professional baseball until he was 26. Robinson played baseball briefly at UCLA in 1940, instantly flashing his skills by collecting four base hits and three stolen bases in an exhibition game against Los Angeles City College. With such skills evident right from the start, it's scary to imagine how good Robinson, who was an excellent major leaguer anyway, could have been had his career started earlier.

2. Robinson was insanely good at two very difficult baseball skills 

The Dodgers legend was adept at two skills that are seemingly overlooked in today's game. He was an excellent base-stealer- particularly of home plate- and he was skilled at laying down sacrifice bunts. Per The Turf, Robinson is credited with 28 sacrifice bunts in 1947, his rookie year. He also routinely turned bunts into singles. The baseball Hall of Famer was a threat on the basepaths, as he stole 197 bases in his career, which included 19 steals of home, which ranks him in the top-10 in baseball history. Robinson was insanely good at two skills that are often taken for granted in baseball.

1. Robinson was arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus

Robinson, who served in the US Army, was riding a military bus when he was told to move to the back of the vehicle by a civilian driver. He refused, was arrested and charged with insubordination. During the proceedings after he was court-martialed, Robinson wasn't allowed to serve. As a result, he was never deployed in World War II. While Robinson is known for breaking the color barrier, he was a trail blazer all his life– and a true American hero.