MLB history: The 10 best games of Jackie Robinson’s career

If he did nothing else, the role played by Jackie Robinson in integrating Major League Baseball would make him one of the game’s most important figures.

Robinson, of course, did a lot more than that. The 1947 Rookie of the Year and 1949 Most Valuable Player, he was a leader of six Dodger pennant winners, one of which (in 1955) went on to win the World Series. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962.

But it is his central role in breaking down the game’s color barrier that it honors on Jackie Robinson Day, the anniversary of his first appearance in a major league uniform.

A look back at the 10 most exceptional regular-season outings as well as the five best postseason games of Jackie Robinson’s outstanding MLB career.

Our standard of measurement is Win Probability Added. That calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome. For that reason, it emphasizes late-inning, game-turning accomplishments. It judges the player’s contribution within the broader context of winning the game.

Here are Jackie Robinson’s 10 most exceptional regular season performances.

10. April 23, 1954, Dodgers 6, Pirates 5. Robinson’s fourth-inning single off Pirate starter Bob Friend was wasted. Facing Friend again in the sixth inning with Brooklyn leading 2-1, he drew a one-out base on balls, advancing to second and third as Friend also walked Gil Hodges and Sandy Amoros.

Friend retired Roy Campanella on an infield pop for the second out, then, with Carl Furillo at bat, Robinson entrusted run production to his legs. As Friend wound up he broke for home, sliding in under the tag of Toby Atwell for a steal of home at the head of what was scored as a triple steal.

But the Pirates fought back and tied the game, which proceeded all the way into the 13th inning. Then, with one out and runners at first and second, the Dodgers star lined a double into right field, scoring Jim Gilliam with the eventual winning run. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.466.

9. June 6, 1954, Dodgers 6, Cubs 4. On a Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Robinson opened the second inning with a home run off Cubs starter Paul Minner. His second hit, a fourth-inning single, was wasted, and this game, too, moved into extra innings, tied 4-4.

After Cubs reliever Hall Jeffcoat retired the first two batters, Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider worked him for consecutive hits, bringing up Jackie in a game-critical spot. He delivered, rolling a base hit into left field that scored Reese with the go-ahead run. Gil Hodges would follow with a hit of his own to send home an insurance run. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.472.

8. April 21, 1951, Dodgers 7, Giants 3. Brooklyn trailed 1-0 at the polo Grounds when Robinson came to bat with a runner at first and two out in the fourth. His home run into the left field seats put the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

Fast-forward to the seventh inning of a 3-2 Giants lead. Jackie walks and crosses home on Cal Abrams’ bases loaded base on balls. One inning later, his double drives in Duke Snider to break a 3-3 tie, and Robinson steals third, scoring on Giant catcher Wes Westrum’s wild throw. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.480.

7. July 25, 1948, Dodgers 7, Pirates 6. Robinson doubled in the first, but was stranded. He doubled again leading off the sixth, and this time Gene Hermanski followed with a home run that tied the game 2-2.

But the Dodgers trailed 5-2 in the seventh when Jackie grounded to Eddie Bockman at third. He muffed the fielding chance, allowing Pete Reiser to score and Jackie to reach safely. One inning later, Robinson was in the middle of a game-winning four run Dodger rally. Hit by a Kirby Higbe pitch, he took third on Gene Hermanski’s double then stole home off Vic Lombardi.  Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.488

6. July 17, 1948, Dodgers 8, Reds 4. This was a 1-1 tie when  Robinson came up in the fifth inning; his line single scored Ralph Branca to put Brooklyn ahead, and he scored moments later on Gene Hermanski’s double.

But the Dodgers still trailed 4-3 until Arky Vaughan’s eighth inning single tied the game. After Pee Wee Reese reached on a fielding error, Jackie stepped up and belted a three-run home run off Harry Gumbert, giving Brooklyn a 7-4 lead. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.495.

5. Aug. 10, 1949, Dodgers 7, Phillies 5. Through eight innings, Robinson’s contribution to victory involved being hit by a fourth-inning Ken Heintzelman pitch and scoring on Bruce Edwards’ single.

But with the score tied in the top of the ninth, Carl Furillo’s line single gave Robinson a chance at heroics. That chance almost evaporated when Jim Konstanty tried to pick Furillo off first, but the pitcher’s wild throw allowed the runner to reach second instead. A base hit would have given Brooklyn the lead, but Robinson was after bigger game; his home run into the left field seats made the score 7-5. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.512.

4. June 6, 1955, Dodgers 5, Cardinals 4. Robinson was a non-factor in a game St. Louis led 4-3 entering the bottom of the ninth. Then he struck decisively.

Cardinal reliever Luis Arroyo made the mistake of walking Gil Hodges to start the ninth, bringing Robinson (as the potential winning run) to the plate. Potential became reality when Jackie crushed Arroyo’s second pitch into the deep center field seats for a game-winner. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.525.

3. July 4, 1951, Dodgers 6, Giants 5. In the opener of a holiday double-header, Robinson was hitless and his team trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth. Against Sal Maglie, he opens the inning with a base hit, advancing to second on a walk and scoring on Gil Hodges’ single.

After neither team scored in the 10th, Bobby Thomson opened the 10th with a home run off Preacher Roe to give New York a lead. But in the bottom half, Robinson’s base hit scored Duke Snider, who had doubled. Robinson took second on the throw home, but with one out was picked off second, beating the play at third thanks to Wes Westrum’s bad throw.

With Roe up, the Dodgers opted for a suicide squeeze and it worked, Robinson beating the throw home to score the winning run. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.553.

2. Aug. 4, 1954, Dodgers 8, Cardinals 7. Robinson singled in the third and scored on Carl Furillo’s home run. But his team still trailed 7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth at Ebbets Field.

Then Cardinal reliever Tom Poholsky walked Jim Gilliam. Pee Wee Reese flied out harmlessly, but Robinson blasted Poholsky’s second pitch into the left field seats for a game-winning home run. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.715.

1. Aug. 22, 1951, Dodgers 8, Cardinals 7. Robinson’s second inning bunt single led to nothing, but he was just getting started. He singled in the fourth and scored on Andy Pafko’s base hit. His sixth inning single scored Pee Wee Reese, although the Dodgers still trailed 7-4.

But that only set the stage for a three-run game-tying ninth inning rally that featured Robinson’s double, scoring Carl Furillo and moving the tying run to third, where Roy Campanella’s hit drove it in.

Finally with two out and two on, Robinson’s fifth hit of the night drove in Clyde King with the walk-off winner. Robinson Win Probability Added: 0.786.