Jackie Robinson

close up of Jackie Robinson (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HyyDHyAwI6k/SzOtMTAvaCI/AAAAAAAAHgw/7QSjeyiht7M/s400/jackie+robinson.jpg )

Baseball has been called America’s favorite pastime. The game today is played by all types of players including Blacks, Whites, Hispanics and Asians. Back in the early days of the game, only white players were accepted in the big leagues. Jackie Robinson loved the game of baseball, but because of the racial tension in America he could only play in the Negro League. He was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.

Jackie stealing home (http://media.photobucket.com/image/jackie%20robinson%20stealing%20home%20on%20ground/bremertonian/baseball/JackieRobinson1.jpg)

Jackie Robinson had a hard childhood. He was made fun of, cursed at, beat up. No one knew he would become one of baseball’s greatest players. Jackie was born on January 31st, 1919 in Cairo Georgia. Both of Jackie’s parents were sharecroppers- poor farmers in the South. The United States was deeply divided by race, especially in the South. His father left the family, and his mother took the five kids to Pasadena California.

jackie played more sports than baseball (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/Robinson_ucla_basketball.gif )

Jackie loved sports, but racism always played a part in his life. At the time, blacks and whites were segregated. They went to different schools, ate at different restaurants, had separate bathrooms and couldn’t even sit together on the same bus. He was no longer in the south, but still struggled like all African Americans did back then. Jackie was the first athlete to receive four varsity letters at UCLA- baseball, basketball, football and track. He had to leave college because of his family’s financial situation. He played ball in Honolulu until WW II started. After that, he joined the Army. After the war in 1945, he decided to play baseball for a living. He joined the Negro League and played in many different cities.

jackie signing his contract (http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/81/80381-004-E79BC7C3.jpg )

In 1947, Branch Ricky, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie the chance to be the first African American to play in the Major League. He was excited and nervous to play for the Dodgers. Even though racial insults were hurled at him from dugouts and fans, Robinson was determined to ignore them. He even had to deal with players on his own team that didn’t like the fact that they had an African American on the team. In one game the yelling from the fans was so bad that his white teammate, Pee Wee Reese came over and put his arm around him. That was a memorable gesture. In 1949, Robinson’s .342 average earned him the National League batting title. He also won the MVP award the same year. Not only was he a great ball player, he was also a good example for all African American athletes.

jackie getting ready to field a ground ball (http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/81/80381-004-E79BC7C3.jpg )

By breaking the color barrier, Robinson made it easier for other African Americans to play in the big league. It wasn’t easy for them, but fans became more accepting. He retired from baseball after ten seasons with the Dodgers. He was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1962 and was also named to the All Century Team. His number 42 was retired throughout the entire league and it was the only time a player had been honored like that. After baseball he started a company that helped low income families. Robinson died in 1972.

“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” said Jackie Robinson. He gave hope to all African Americans to play baseball against all odds, and he did it with dignity and determination.