Lou Gehrig: A True American Hero

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.

Throughout the course of American history, there have been copious amounts of famous speeches, spoken by many different people. From political figures to sports players; these people have provided deep thoughts and great insights about who they are and the world we live in today. Being a sports enthusiast, a memorable speech comes to my mind. Lou Gehrig’s “farewell speech”, given on July 4th, 1939, to more than 62,000 fans at New York City’s Yankee Stadium, has become a cornerstone in the history of baseball in America. Lou Gehrig is considered one of the most under-rated sports players of all time. Gehrig played in the same era with greats like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. In Fact, Gehrig played on 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

Baseball has always been America’s national pastime. In the early and all the way into the mid 50’s, baseball was America and America was baseball. The only thing lacking in the great game was the absence of African American players and the presence of an all white sport. America still wasn’t friendly or accepted the African American race and many still held great prejudice towards them. All this would change when the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey decided he was going to sign a Negro player. Jackie Robinson was that player and Jackie Robinson changed the game, America, and history. By looking specifically at his childhood adversity, college life and the hardships he encountered by becoming the first black player

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.

Jackie Robinson is known for his will and determination, in a game where African Americans were not allowed to play. Major league baseball (MLB), was the biggest professional baseball league in the country but was racially segregated. Growing up in poverty, Jackie Robinson faced many struggles. Jackie was a great athlete that could play multiple sports, just not major league baseball. He competed and excelled at numerous sports, including basketball and football. As good as an athlete he was, Jackie Robinson obtained a college degree and attended UCLA. He played baseball in the all black, Negro leagues, until he broke the MLB’s color barrier in 1947. Though Jackie was mostly known for his athletic abilities, he did his part as a civil rights

Jackie Robinson will be remembered mainly because he broke the MLB color barrier. This means that he was the first African American player in the MLB. However, he also did many other amazing things such as fighting in the Army and being the rank of Commander. Lastly, he will be remembered because he gave African Americans hope that segregation will get better and that you can do anything you believe in. Even though he was hated while he played in the MLB, he is now one of the most beloved

“Jackie Robinson is perhaps the most historically significant baseball player ever, ranking with Babe Ruth in terms of his impact on the national pastime. Ruth changed the way baseball was played; Jackie Robinson changed the way Americans thought. When Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, more than sixty years of racial segregation in major-league baseball came to an end. He was the first acknowledged black player to perform in the Major Leagues in the twentieth century and went on to be the first to win a batting title, the first to win the Most Valuable Player award, and the first to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He won major-league baseball's first official Rookie of the Year award and was the first baseball player, black or white, to be featured on a United States postage stamp”(swaine,

Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson did more in his short baseball career than anyone else ever did for the sport. He was always able to push on despite the criticisms and punishment he took from others. No other man can say that they broke the color barrier or that they changed the sport of baseball forever. To do what he did required strength and the ability to endure physical and mental pain. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player.

If you have heard about baseball, you have probably heard the name Jackie Robinson. One of the most important names ever in the sport. He broke so many barriers with his skill and bravery. He left a great legacy that changed the lives of many.

In 1947 Major League baseball was 98.3 percent white and 0.9 percent African American (Baseball Demographics). Professional baseball was certainly a “white man’s game” yet, there was Jackie Robinson, making his mark on the world in professional baseball. In 1981 these numbers peaked with 18.7 percent of African Americans playing baseball. Robinson had opened the door to many men of color and encouraged them to take a step in with him.

Jackie Robinson changed baseball forever the instant he stepped on the field. “Robinson broke the color barrier in sport that had been geregated for more than 50 years(History.com)”. “His awe-inspiring performances helped integrate all of baseball(amhistory.si.edu)”. With his spirit and attitude he didn’t change just baseball, but also the racism in America. He brought hope to African Americans, by showing that dreams can be accomplished.

Jackie Robinson was an American hero not only for the African American community proving that they were equal to white Americans, but also breaking the color barrier in major American sports and paved the way for future minorities for major American sports. Robinson throughout his whole life faced racial discrimination and was treated inferior to whites from his childhood until the day he died, and his life’s work made America a better place for African Americans by gaining more rights and opportunities, whether if they gained Civil Rights or rights to play on the same field as white professional sports players. The man who took the risk of signing Jackie Robinson was the General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Rickey, a former Major

Jackie Robinson was a life changing man. Blacks were always rejected from baseball because of segregation. Jackie once told a reporter “ I want to live to see a black manager”. Jackie Robinson had an aggressive style of play causing his to be one of the greatest players of all time. Once Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier many more blacks were able to play baseball.

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