Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson during pre-game (http://www.biography.com/people/jackie-robinson-9460813 ())

"A talented athlete who excelled in four sports in college, Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball when he made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Subjected to close scrutiny and brutal racism he endured with grace and made a notable contribution to the Civil Rights movement" (Ladner). Not many people can share the same experience as Jackie Robinson, as he was the first African-American to set foot on a major league field in the modern era. Born in Cairo, Georgia, to a family of share-croppers, he was the youngest of five children.  He never knew his biological father.  Poverty stricken and down on luck, Robinson always maintained a positive attitude.  Jackie Robinson is heroic due to the fact that he is courageous, passionate, and mentally strong while also maintaining a positive image and attitude.

Robinson's childhood, at times, was very difficult.  He left Georgia at a young age when his family moved into a predominantly white area in Pasadena, CA.  Robinson would later attend UCLA where he won varsity letters in four sports, (baseball, basketball, football, and track) the first to accomplish this feat.  This garnered attention from sports agents and eventually he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  This was the first time in the modern era of major league baseball that an African-American player played in the MLB.  He settled in quickly but was often threatened by fans, media, and opposing players.  Even though he was exposed to harsh ridicule he never let this affect his level of play. 

Jackie after taking a swing (http://offthemonster.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-jackie-robinson-day.html ())

Robinson was extraordinarily courageous and was one of the few Major League Baseball players that had the ability to be a leader and not a follower.  "In the spring of 1949, having fulfilled his three year pledge of silence, Robinson began to speak his mind and angrily confronted opposing players who taunted him" (Douglas).  Robinson was able to stand up for himself even though he knew he was going to be ridiculed for it.  His ability to stand for what he believes in inspired others to do the same thing.  "The news that a Black man was playing Major League baseball spread like wildfire throughout the nation. All over the country, blacks were united in their support for Robinson. Special masses were held on game days where the preachers would pray for Jackie Robinson" (Chandy).  Jackie was bold enough to start a revolution that would last forever.  If it were not for his courage, African-Americans would not be able to participate in professional sports.  His courage not only improved life for himself, but it improved the lives of every African-American in the United States.

Including the courage, Robinson's passion toward his career propelled him forward in life.  "No other player has had a greater sociological impact on American sport than Robinson did.  His success on the baseball field opened the door to black baseball players and thereby transformed the game.  He also helped to facilitate the acceptance of black athletes in other professional sports, particularly basketball and football.  His influence spread beyond the realm of sport, as he emerged in the late 1940's and 1950's as an important national symbol of the virtue of the racial integration in all aspects of American life" (Douglas).  Robinson would have never made it to the MLB if he did not have passion.  But his passionate ways paved the way for Blacks who wanted to play sports and fit in to society. "At the end of Robinson's rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 homers, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average. In 1949, he was selected as the NL's Most Valuable player of the Year and also won the batting title with a .342 average that same year. As a result of his great success, Jackie was eventually inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962" (Jackie Robinson Foundation).  Robinson was always ridiculed.  But he never let it bother him or his performance level as he was inducted into the Hall Of Fame even under the tremendous amounts of pressure.  That is the definition of passion.

(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/richard_rothschild/04/13/jackie.robinson/index.html ())

Jackie Robinson's state of mentality never faltered during his career.  "During his first year he was subjected to extraordinary verbal and physical abuse from opposing teams and spectators.  Pitchers threw the ball at his head, opposing base runners cut him with their spikes, and disgruntled fans sent death threats that triggered an FBI investigation on at least one occasion" (Douglas).  Robinson knew that everybody hated him, and he knew his safety could potentially be threatened.  But he was committed to succeeding on the baseball field and nothing else.  "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" (Britannica Biographies). These situations were always handled with perfection by Jackie, as he never once let his guard down. Many veterans would not have been mature enough to accept the fact that the greater majority of people disliked them. But Jackie's level head was able to tune out the negative comments and only focus on the task at hand. That is one of the many reasons why Jackie made it to the Hall of Fame. 

Passion, charisma, and positive mentality shot Robinson to the top of the MLB and the top of people's hearts. People do not understand how charismatic Jackie Robinson was. He not only changed the way baseball is played, but he changed the world and all the negative stereotypes surrounding African-Americans.  His demeanor will be recognized forever and he will always be remembered as a trailblazer.

"Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life." - Jackie Robinson.