Baseball Great. Jackie Robinson (1919-72) began his professional baseball career while a lieutenant at Camp Breckinridge, 1944. The next year Branch Rickey, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, signed the four-sport letterman from UCLA for Montreal Royals, top Dodger farm club. In 1947, Robinson promoted to Dodgers team, breaking Major league color barrier. Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.