Jackie Robinson

"'Mr. Rickey,' he murmured, 'do you want a ballplayer who's afraid to fight back?'  'I want a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back!' Rickey exclaimed almost savagely.  He paced across the floor and returned with finger pointing.  'You've got to do this job with base hits and stolen bases and fielding ground balls, Jackie.  Nothing else!'" (EyeWitness to History, 1).  In order to bring racial integration into Major League Baseball, one African American player was willing to experimentally join the otherwise all-white league, and swallow his pride at insults and threats made at him.  Jack Roosevelt Robinson, more commonly known as Jackie Robinson, was the first African American player to set foot in the all-white United States Professional Baseball League on April 15, 1947 when he was signed onto the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Often he was intentionally insulted, threatened, and injured for his attempts to overcome the color barrier dividing baseball.  In the end, however, Robinson turned out to be a highly respected member of American Baseball, leading the way for African American athletes, and finally becoming inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; a great honor for baseball players.  Jackie Robinson endured the hard oppression of segregation in the United States, but his strong determination, self control, and leadership qualities are what helped him break down the color barrier dividing baseball in the US.

Jackie Robinson's fierce determination is one reason why there is no color barrier in Major League Baseball today.  For example, when Robinson served in the military in 1944, he experienced racial segregation on a military bus.  "In 1944, he was court-martialed for refusing a white driver's demands to go to the back of a bus because he was black.  An all-white military jury found Robinson not guilty of insubordination (disobedience).  He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1944 as a second lieutenant."  (Milbert 1).  Robinson was a strong believer in equality and the integration of white and black Americans, and he hated being treated any differently because of his skin.  He was determined to protest against segregation whenever he could.  Robinson loved serving in the military, but his determination to end segregation was greater than his love for serving his country.  He chose to protest the racism of the situation on the bus, knowing fully well that it would earn him some form of punishment in the army.  Robinson did not only show his determination off the field, he also incorporated it into his field performance as well.  "His playing kept improving, reaching a peak in 1949 when his exploits earned him a batting title and the Most Valuable Player award.  By this time Robinson was famous throughout the world.  He had a string of six consecutive seasons batting over .300 and became renowned for his daring steals at home."  (Biography in Context, 1).  Robinson knew that many judgmental eyes were on him, gauging his performance to see if African Americans were ready to play in the Major Leagues.  Robinson took this responsibility seriously, and was determined to show the country that black baseball players belonged in the Major Leagues just as much as white players did.  His incredible and daring accomplishments on the field proved to many that he indeed was just as good as white players, and that black baseball players were ready for professional baseball.  Jackie Robinson's fierce determination was one of the many factors that led to the integration of blacks into Major League Baseball.  Even when treated unfairly himself, Robinson still remained determined to achieve his goal of integration, and finally achieved it in the end.

Though his determination was an important factor in the undoing of the color barrier in American Professional Baseball, Jackie Robinson's self control was one of the many qualities that aided him in his success too.  Many fans and players were against Robinson joining the Dodgers, and he knew that any angry retaliation from himself would result in the end of his career in professional baseball. Critics of Robinson tried everything they could in order to get Robinson angry.  They subjected him to the most relentless abuse they could muster.  "Fans hurled bottles and invectives at him.  Some Dodger teammates openly protested against having to play with an African American, while players on opposing teams deliberately pitched balls at Robinson's head and spiked him with their shoes in deliberately rough slides into bases." (EyeWitness to History, 1).  Every day, Robinson went through this abuse, receiving death threats, injuries, and taunts.  Yet, through it all, he managed to hold his temper in check in order to ensure that black baseball players got into the professional leagues.  Without his restraint and willingness to withstand ongoing abuse, it is possible that there still would be forms of segregation in MLB today.  Later in life, Robinson did admit that it was difficult for him to remain calm during these episodes. "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." (Jackie Robinson).  Robinson knew that the breakdown of the color barrier dividing American Professional Baseball would fail if he retaliated.  He learned that retaliating against dissenters would only make him an example of why black players shouldn't be allowed in the Major Leagues.  Jackie did an incredible job of "turning the other cheek" when faced with threats, intentional injuries, and insults.  Because he made no move to strike back at those offending him, skeptics could not find a single reason to bar black athletes from entering professional baseball.  Robinson's self control is shocking considering some of the insults thrown at him.  Even the crowd and fan control rules that baseball players today enjoy, can be traced back to the perseverance and sacrifice that Jackie Robinson demonstrated.

Finally, Robinson's inspiration and leadership qualities were the last step in his fight to end the color barrier dividing professional baseball.  Despite the hostility directed towards him, Jackie managed to gain acceptance onto the Dodgers, even though they originally did not want him.  He even managed to make friends with the players, who in turn began to show respect for him.  "In Boston during a period when the heckling pressure seemed unbearable, some of the Boston players began to heckle Reese.  They were riding him about being a southerner and playing ball with a black man.  Pee Wee didn't answer them.  Without a glance' in their direction, he left his position and walked over to me.  He put his hand on my shoulder and began talking to me." (Robinson 64).  Robinson originally was not accepted onto the Dodgers because of his skin color.  In fact, Pee Wee Reese was a southerner, who had grown up knowing only segregation from the teachings he had been taught his entire life.  Despite Reese's teachings, Robinson was able to unite the team that originally petitioned for his ban from baseball, and they eventually stood up for one another once Robinson gained their respect.  To this day people continue to respect and honor Robinson for breaking the color barrier.  "...star slugger Ken Griffey, Jr., received permission from the commissioner of baseball to wear the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day, and the yearly "unretiring" of Robinson's number gained more adherents until, in 2009, Major League Baseball decided that all players, coaches, and umpires would wear number 42 on April 15." (Britannica Biographies, 1).  Jackie Robinson has inspired many professional athletes today, and even ordinary people, to honor his memory.  His accomplishments, sacrifices, and determination for the greater good of baseball, give us a reason to celebrate his existence.  Jackie Robinson's leadership united an otherwise bias and team of baseball players, and made them realize that they could actually use his baseball skills for the benefit of the team.

Though having gone through many racially driven hardships, Jackie Robinson utilized his qualities of determination, self control, and leadership to successfully put an end to the color barrier dividing baseball in the United States.  Robinson's determination drove him to withstand racial insults and other abuses because he strongly believed that he could achieve his goal.  His self control provided him with the restraint he needed in order to not retaliate when he was insulted.  Finally, his leadership and inspirational skills allowed him to change his previously racist team into fully supportive teammates.  These three qualities, along with countless others that Jackie possessed, highlight him as a hero in the eyes of many, and his story should serve as an inspiration to young and old to continue to strive for one's goals, no matter how impossible it may seem.  Personally, I view Jackie Robinson as a hero because I never may have had the opportunity to play baseball if he had not succeeded with his goal.  Baseball is one of my favorite activities, and to consider that my skin color may have taken away my ability to participate in this great sport, is preposterous.  I am glad Robinson thought the same way, and took a stand to end it.  In addition to him being my hero, Robinson inspires me everyday to not be judgmental of others, due to the hardships he faced in life.  Though Robinson was good at baseball, many did not want to even give him a chance to prove it.  Jackie Robinson sacrificed so much to give African Americans a chance to play baseball.  Today, many African American or other dark skinned athletes are allowed to participate in MLB due to Robinson's perseverance.  Had Jackie Robinson never worked to end racial segregation in baseball, none of those players would have received the chance to play.  People today and in the future should continue to honor Robinson's dedication to baseball and continue to thank him for making us realize that racial barriers in sports, especially baseball, need to remain destroyed and obsolete forever.