Jackie Robinson

Robinson's plaque in Cooperstown, baseball's HOF. (http://blog.timesunion.com/mcguire/files/2008/05/r ())

"I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect" (Jackie Robinson). This quote by Jackie Robinson perfectly portrayed the way Jackie handled being the first African American to play professional baseball. Born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919, Jack Roosevelt Robinson grew up in the care of his mother, Mallie Robinson, along with four siblings: three brothers and one sister. Jackie began playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and got off to a fast start. Even though he was constantly heckled, threatened, and attacked, Jackie still valued the trait of respect, and never retaliated. His calm yet determined attitude drove him to be one of the best players of the game, and he ended up achieving many prestigious awards, including Rookie of the Year his first year in the Major Leagues. Jackie went on to win a World Series with his Dodgers, as well as an MVP trophy. He was recognized for his special talents after his retirement by being inducted into the Hall of Fame (HOF). And, to this day, Jackie is still the only player to have his jersey number permanently retired (now, no player is permitted to wear the coveted number 42), which is the highest award any player could possibly receive. A hero must possess self-control, determination, and courage, and Robinson had all of these traits. He was clearly a heroic figure who never gave up, never retaliated to hostilities, and was never afraid to face up to a challenge. Through all the difficulties and challenges through segregation that Jackie Robinson faced in his career, he showed great determination, courage, and self-control, propelling himself to being a Hall of Fame baseball player who is considered one of the best the game has ever seen.

Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play professional baseball, dealt with many challenges and hardships over racial segregation, but his determination carried him through these difficulties. Instead of giving in to the pressure and abandoning the "experiment," Jackie kept at it: "He had great natural ability and was the finest competitor I've ever played with or against" (Bio:True Story). Jackie's determination helped him become what he became as an adult: a strong willed, determined man. It also helped him to break the color barrier because he never gave up. His determination was one of the biggest factors to being chosen for the "experiment:" "Branch wanted Jackie because he knew Jackie had absolutely fierce determination." (Britannica Biographies). Robinson's determination to be great was inspiring. He didn't care what other people did or thought, he just played baseball to the extent of his abilities. And, his determination led to people accepting and learning how good he really was. Jackie Robinson's incredible determination was one of the reasons he was able to accomplish what he accomplished. No matter what challenge Robinson faced, he tackled it with a fire and intensity that was unmatched. It helped him to excel in the game of baseball, and to earn the title of one of the greatest to ever play.

Despite the hecklers and hostile players Jackie faced, he maintained his self-control throughout, never retaliating, and always responding through his strong play. After a tough day at the ballpark, Jackie didn't fight back. As Dan Gutman described, "Jackie could have retaliated. But he didn't. He answered with silence and self-control" (Gutman 143). Having the self-control to not fight back against hostiles made Jackie all the more special. This shows how much Jackie wanted to pave the way for other African-Americans. He knew that he could have snapped when someone insulted him and fought them, but he didn't. He stayed calm, kept his self-control, and it eventually helped him to achieve his ultimate goal. At one point, Jackie was harassed so much, he wanted to quit. He described it as: "Plenty of times I wanted to haul off when somebody insulted me for the color of my skin, but I had to hold to myself. I knew I was kind of an experiment. The whole thing was bigger than me" (Britannica Biographies). This shows Jackie's incredible self-control. Even though every part of him wanted to quit, he continued to play, because he knew it would benefit himself and other African-Americans. His self-control kept himself from giving up on his dreams, and also helped him etch his name into baseball lore. No matter what situation he was thrust into, whether it was a harassing player or a heckling fan, Jackie always kept his tongue in check. He instead showed them up through his playing. Without his self-control, he very well could have ended up in jail or out of baseball forever. His unwavering self-control was clearly a key cog in his accomplishments.

Jackie receives a death threat in his mail. (http://rnishi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/jackie_r ())

Without his overpowering courage, Jackie Robinson would not have come close to the man he became. Hostile fans and players tried their best to injure or deter Jackie in any way they could, "Pitchers often threw the ball directly at Robinson, base runners tried to spike him, and he was subjected to a steady stream of racial insults" (Bio: True Story). Deciding to play under such hostile and dangerous conditions showed Jackie's incredible courageousness. He knew that breaking the color barrier would benefit both himself and others with the same color skin as him, so he played anyways. By challenging the color barrier, Jackie wasn't just confronting the baseball world. He was also challenging the unquestionable concept of racial segregation happening all over the United States. "By breaking the color barrier in baseball, the nation's preeminent sport, he courageously challenged the deeply rooted custom of racial segregation in both the North and the South" (Bio: True Story). Jackie's courageousness helped him cope with these dangers. Challenging the concept of racial segregation was one of the most dangerous things he could have possibly done at the time. He played with a fire and intensity that even dirty and hostile players he faced eventually learned to admire. Without his trait of courageousness, Jackie may not have accomplished what he did. Every day, Jackie would arrive at a ballpark knowing that he would be heckled by the other team, have balls thrown at his head, and have people intentionally attempt to spike him with their dangerous metal cleats. Outside of the game, he knew his participation in baseball would provoke people to send him death threats and hate mail. But, Jackie didn't respond to this hostile environment as many expected. Jackie showed his incredible courageousness, and through it, showed other players and the world just what he could do. Through all this, his opponents and the whole world learned to respect and admire Jackie's incredible trait of courage.

(http://www.californiasportshalloffame.org/inductee ())

Jackie Robinson was a courageous and determined man who possessed incredible self-control. These heroic traits that he possessed propelled him to a Hall of Fame career and led him to becoming one of the most decorated players in baseball history. Jackie's determination kept him from quitting on his dreams. His self-control guided him on the road to success, because without it, Jackie could have ended up in jail or out of baseball due to racial segregation. And, his courage helped him live up to the hype and carry out a long and successful career. Jackie Robinson inspired people all over the world by always giving his 100% and never taking no for an answer. Through these traits, Jackie was able to earn the respect of the other players, which was no simple task. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and had his jersey permanently retired, so that he would be the only player to ever wear the coveted number 42. Jackie's incredible accomplishments became something to marvel at, and he became the role model of millions around the world. Due to his heroic traits and actions, Jackie Robinson was a true hero and an awe-inspiring figure in the great history of baseball.

Britannica Biographies. "Robinson, Jackie." Web.ebscohost.com. EBSCOhost, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012

Gutman, Dan. "To the Reader." Jackie and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure. New York: Avon, 1999. 142-45. Print.

Taha, Leila. "Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. .