JACKIE ROBINSON

Jackie Robinson (Jack Roosevelt Jackson) was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919. When Jackie's father left his family, his mother Mallie decided to move to Pasadena, California, where the entire neighborhood was white except the Robinson family.

Jackie was influenced by his brother Mack, who was the silver medalist at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Since he liked to play sports, Jackie would do the Broad Jump in the morning and play baseball in the afternoon. Jackie went to college at the University of California, Los Angeles where he became the first student to earn a varsity letter in four different sports (track, football, basketball, and baseball). In 1941 Jackie decided to leave school and join the military. Jackie became a second lieutenant and was honorably discharged after being acquitted of insubordination.

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In 1944, Jackie moved to Texas to play baseball for the Negro Leagues. Jackie Robinson was being scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Later that year he signed a contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 15, 1947, Jackie started his professional baseball career for the Dodgers. He got into many fights and arguments with people because he was the only colored player. The first game of the season went into baseball history because he was the first player to break the color barrier in the Major League's modern era.

Jackie Robinson's life inspires me because he stood up for himself and kept going after his dream. Jackie motivates me because of his braveness. To me Jackie is a hero because if he didn't do what he did, there wouldn't be all the great stars that there are today, and he changed a big part in history.

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It was a sad day on October 24, 1972 in Stamford, Connecticut for Jackie's family because that was the day that Jackie Robinson died a tragic death. He died of complications from diabetes. From that day on Jackie Robinson went into history and into the baseball hall of fame. His jersey number remains retired throughout the entire league. To this day on he is a baseball hero.