Jackie Robison Research Paper

Jackie Robinson is mostly remembered for breaking the color barrier in baseball. By stepping into the predominantly white sport, he changed the face of not only baseball, but also the United States as a whole. He did all of this during a time of segregated buses, schools, hotels, drinking fountains, and when restaurants were separated. After joining the league in 1947, he wasn't accepted. He faced death threats, vulgar insults, and fans

Jackie Robinson was one of the most historically well known people in the civil rights movement. So as the first man to integrate major league baseball, Jackie Robinson had a game changing impact on the way the game was played. Having the courage to fight for what is right, Jackie broke the imaginary color barrier that has covered major league baseball for years. Through his resiliency and tenaciousness in the face of seemingly unconquerable odds, Jackie Robinson set the course for African Americans to continue the expansion for equality and true freedom while he was becoming one of the greatest Major League baseball players in history.

Baseball has always been a part of America’s pastime. From Babe Ruth calling his shot to Cy Young winning 511 games, baseball has always been a sport of chance. Baseball is a sport where one has to give the other team an opportunity to win. A team cannot run the clock down until the game is over; the other team always has a chance to win the game. The fate of a team always lies in their own hands. The same chance for success was given to Jackie Robinson when Branch Rickey brought him into the major leagues. If Robinson could put up respectable statistics and play with class and dignity he could win the heart of a country. In Rubinstein’s article it states, “Following Rickey’s lead, some Major League clubs were quick to integrate” (“Rubinstein” 25). Jackie’s perseverance lead to a huge wave of Negro players into Major League baseball. Players like Willie Stargell, Joe Morgan, and Willie Mays became stars of the league all because of Robinson. As stated in Rubinstein’s article “By the

In 1946, Jackie Robinson altered the course of major league baseball forever, he did what no man ever did before him, Robinson broke the color barrier after 15 years of it withstanding (“Jackie”). Before Robinson, there were no African Americans in MLB

The game of baseball evolved immensely during the 1900’s. There were new rules and rule changes, new teams in new states, and then there was Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a true legend from the day he was born in 1919. Baseball had it all in the first half of the 1900’s, fans filled the stadiums day after day, even during the war times. There was a big-name player on almost every team, children and adults admired these professional baseball players. The only thing professional baseball didn’t have during these times were African American players. Learning about the hardships that he had to overcome as a young boy, and the accomplishments he made from his college days at UCLA, to becoming the first African American professional baseball player, Jackie made it known that he was an American hero.

“Spring training in Florida was rough for Robinson due to segregation laws” (“Jackie” 2). This quote shows the MLB was segregated and Jackie did not care. “ Robinson’s arrival on the major league scene in 1947 prompted slew racially motivated actions” (“Jackie” 2). This quote shows that people were going to hate Jackie and he knew that people would.“ The St. Louis Cardinals threatened to go on strike” (“Jackie” 2). This quote shows teams were not going to play with Jackie in the league because they did not want him to play baseball. “ National League president Ford Frick threatened to ban all strikers from professional baseball” (“Jackie” 2). This quote shows that Ford Frick is willing to stand up for Jackie and people care about Jackie playing baseball. “ Pitchers often threw the ball directly at Jackie, baserunners tried to spike him” (“Jackie” 2). This quote shows that other pitchers and runners hated Jackie and tried to get him out of baseball. “In his first year, Jackie hit 12 home runs and helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant” (“Robinson” 3). This quote shows that Jackie would be a key part for the Dodgers. “That year, Robinson lead the National League in stolen bases and was selected Rookie of the Year” (“Robinson” 3). This shows that Jackie would be a star in the MLB. Next will be breaking the color

Civil rights was an important American issue through the late 40s through the 60s. During this time period Baseball was “America’s Pastime, “and a major social get together for white Americans. However in 1947 both of these event were combined when the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson is the target of my biography. Robinson not only was the first African American baseball player, but he also had a hall of fame career, and eventually had his number retired by all of Major League Baseball. It is important to know about him because he helped accelerate the civil rights movement in America. Although his entrance was brutal with the abuse he received and the obscenities that were yelled at him. He helped the transition to not only make African Americans accepted in professional sports, but also to help the acceptance of African Americans in the civil rights movement.

The legacy of Jackie Robinson goes beyond the April 15, 1947 afternoon at Ebbets Field, when the Brooklyn Dodger infielder became the first black in the 20th century to play baseball in the major leagues. He changed the sport, and he changed the attitude of a lot of people in this country, Jackie Robinson fought for all the people that were fortunate, a lot of them are, especially the minority guys, to be able to play in the major leagues and the impact on the people of color today.

He walks into the stadium...hopeful...yet aware of the prejudice exiting in the minds of the ignorant... in the minds of those who do not realize his journey will empower the victims of unjustified hate and he will change history. Jackie Robinson shattered the color barrier in the MLB despite racism that permeated throughout the league and in society in the 1940 's. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball. He is a model or courage and fortitude for everyone, and has left a huge legacy in the baseball world and in the whole entire sports world. He was signed by the brooklyn Dodgers in April 15, 1947. This is when history was made. This paper will explain Jackie Robinson 's life before his career as a dodger, how he played, the person behind the signing of Jackie, and most importantly how the fans treated him and how he was even a leader/what his legacy even was.

Jackie was a phenomenal athlete for young kids to look up to. After the start of World War II he served in the military from 1942 to 1944. After the war he returned to his love for baseball, playing in the Black major leagues. He was chosen by Branch Rickey, vice president of the Brooklyn dodgers, to help integrate the Major Leagues. Rickey hated segregation just as much as Robinson and wanted to change things “Rickey had once seen a Black college player turned away from a hotel… Rickey never forgot seeing this player crying because he was denied a place to lay his weary head just because of the color of his skin” (Mackenzie). He was finally able to do something about segregation and help change baseball and the United States for the better. It wasn’t that all the teams were racist and didn’t want a black player but when the major league teams had an away game they would rent out the stadium to the black teams for them to play at. And the executives of teams didn’t want to loose the money that they were making off of the black teams. “League owners would lose significant rental revenue” (“Breaking”). He soon signed with the all-white Montreal Royals a farm team for the Dodgers. Robinson had an outstanding start with the Royals, “leading the International League with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage” (Robinson). After Robinson’s outstanding year he was promoted to the Dodgers he played his first game on

Since the abolition of slavery in the USA in 1883 and through the first half of the 20th Century, African Americans had been in a constant struggle to try and gain an equal footing in society. Like many aspects of American life, black sportsmen were segregated, and no African American had played professional baseball since 1884. For this reason, the integration of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first African American to play Major League baseball in the modern era had a grand impact on the entire country. From the moment that Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey decided that Robinson would break the colour lone, the history of sport and the history of African Americans would not be the same again. The importance of his integration and the effect it had on civil rights can be looked at in many different ways. It had great effect on the African American community, instilling pride and belief once again in the American Dream for many who had once thought it impossible. It also had significant importance for civil rights groups, and brought about a figure who would fight his peoples quest for equal rights until the day he died. It was a significant risk taken by both Rickey and Robinson, professionally and personally. But it was a risk that both in the short term for African American sport, and in the long run for African American civil rights, was ultimately well worth taking.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black Major League Baseball player since the 1880’s when baseball became segregated (“Jackie”). The transition into the MLB was far from easy. It was not easy for Robinson, for Rickey, for any of his teammates, or even for America. There were racial slurs from his teammates, from the audience, and everywhere he went.

Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in the modern MLB. Branch Rickey signed Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 because he realized there were many talented athletes in the Negro League. Robinson was on the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. Rickey knew Robinson would get lots of booing and insults on the field, but he knew Robinson could control his anger. The year he entered the Major Leagues the threats, insults and abuse got worse. He didn’t let it get to him and that year, his batting average was .297 and scored 127 runs.

Jackie Robinson is a legend, not only in the baseball world, but in all sports. He broke the color barrier for all professional sports. Before 1947 African Americans were not allowed to play professional sports. This all changed when Jackie stepped foot onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York where he made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson is heroic because he changed the face of baseball and ended segregation in professional sports, his cultural impact, and due to his courage and determination.

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31st 1919. In 1947, at the age of 28, Jackie became the first African American to break the “color line” of Major League Baseball when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers. During his tenure with the Dodgers, Jackie was not simply an average player. Among various other accolades, Mr. Robinson was a starter on six World Series teams as well as being named the National League Rookie of The Year in 1947. His advantageous career was then capped in 1962 when he was inducted in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.1 Contrary to popular belief, Jackie's perseverance in implementing racial integration extended beyond his career in Major League Baseball. During the Sixties Jackie Robinson was a