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1 comment:
I love baseball because it is something that has been in my heart since I went to the Dodger's Stadium at eleven years old. But there is another reason why I love the Dodgers and that's because they made a bold move to break the color line in a time that very much needed the line to be broken.
If you don't know who Jack Roosevelt Robinson please read on, if you do know who this great man is read on anyway every person needs to stop and pay respect to a great leader like Jackie Robinson.
I didn't write this, yet I want to shout from the mountain tops that those who claim to hate the Dodgers need to be reminded of the following :Jackie Robinson
In 1947 Jackie Robinson was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and was the first black to do so. Before that there were separate leagues. Segregation was a big issue and Jackie made it even bigger by calling for it to stop and letting every one have a chance to show their talent. He led the path for a less difficult life for blacks, but that path had hate, misery, and pain as obstacles and only a special person like Robinson could overcome those obstacles. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in a small farmhouse near Cairo, Georgia. He had a tough up bringing and did not have good housing. "Jackie and his family lived on a white owned farm and his father worked on the farm"(Falkner 22). Jackie did not have a clear path to the right future. "The overriding reality of Robinson's early years was that, for black youth, the future was closed. Simple as that. It didn't take sociologist or a Jim Crow sign to tell him that schools, jobs, opportunities, careers were severely limited"(Falkner 28). Jackie had his eyes opened to prejudice at a very young age. "Everyday prejudice was Robinson's silent companion wherever he went, to and from school, to the neighborhood parks, to the segregated movie theaters, to the curbside markets where the Bond- Bread truck, the vegetable truck, the milk truck, sold their wares because most local food merchants refused to welcome nonwhites in their stores" (Falkner 30). Jackie grew up in the era of segregation. "During the period of segregation in the United States racial controversies were, of course, serious issues that often held deadly consequences. Lynchings were common. And each time blacks attempted to expand their limited citizenship, the response was usually accompanied with violence"(Dorinson 159). For Jackie to take all the horrible injustices that he saw an had done to him is an extraordinary sign of what kind of man Jackie was. When Jackie was young he and his friends used to sneak into the local reservoir to escape the unbearable heat. "In one incident a sheriff's deputy taunted them, "Look there, niggers swimming in my drinking water." And then, when the youths were arrested and taken to jail, one of the sixteen, crowded into a small cell, pleaded that he was hot and thirsty. The sheriff said, "The coon's hungry. Go buy a watermelon." According to the story, watermelon was actually purchase and sliced and handed to Robinson and his friends, who were mockingly photographed by the police as they ate the fruit"(Falkner 33). This was a very painful experience for Jackie he never wanted anyone else to feel that way maybe that is why he never gave up his dream to break the color barriers of major league baseball. Jackie had a tough time getting his chance to play in the majors. "The owners besides sharing in the general prejudice, were afraid that integration would cost them business by driving away the white fans without bringing in enough black fans to make up the difference"(Weidhorn 34). A lot lot of black athletes had trouble make it to the big leagues. "Though black talent was obviously out there, not many owners- or players, fans, or reporters- were eager to change things"(Weidhorn 34). When Jackie was playing for a minor league team he had many encounters with racism. When Robinson's team was playing the Orioles in an exhibition game they beat them 4-2 and the white fans of the Orioles were not happy. Jackie and two other black teammates stayed in the locker room all night due to lurking lynch mobs waiting outside the ballpark. Vigilantes were screaming, "Come out of there Robinson, you nigger son of a bitch, we'll getcha! We'll getcha"(Falkner 139). When Jackie was playing in Georgia the KKK had said they were going to kill him if he showed his face after the game or even before (Weidhorn 118). Robinson kept going to make is dream of playing pro ball happen. Jackie was getting closer to breaking the race barrier in baseball, He went to try out in Boston and during the whole try out there screams from the fans saying "Get those niggers off the field"(Weidhorn35). This inncedent still did not set him back and he kept working and fighting to be were he belonged. Finally at age 28 Robinson made history by being the first black player to be signed by a major league baseball team. The Brooklyn Dodgers signed him and a man named Branch Rickey made it happen. He told Robinson that now matter how bad it got and how many people messed with him the only way he could get back at them was hitting homers (Shapiro 127). As soon as Jackie was brought up to the majors the abuse began, with hate mail and threats,"Get out of the game or be killed". "Get out or your wife is dead"(Dorinson 18). In one of Jackie's first games they were playing the Phillies. One of the players on the Phills yelled "Hey nigger, why don't you go back to the cotton fields were you belong, Jackie responded by going 4 for 6 that day with two homerun and 5 RBI's"(Rowan 182). While the Dodgers were in Chicago playing the Cubs Jackie could not stay at the same hotel as his teammates because of his color (Shapiro112). Even though Jackie could play ball he was still limited to what he could do. "After 1949, a black person could be accepted on the ball field, but the country would still witness bloodshed over the issue of integrated bathrooms, restaurants, or schools"(Dorinson 8). Jackie ignored it all, everything from racial slurs to not being able to stay or eat somewhere because of his color, and he became the first black man to play in the major's. Jackie Robinson is a great American hero. Robinson opened doors for many black athletes. Jackie showed blacks that they could succeed in life during that time and he made it less difficult for other black athletes to succeed. He also showed people that every slander and ethnic slur anybody ever said or wrote about him was wasted effort because he was too strong and to brave to give up his dream to be a pro baseball player.
Bibliography
Working Bibliography Rowan, Charles. Wait till Next Year. New York: Random House, 1960. Dorinson, Joseph. Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports, and the American Dream. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1998. Falkner, David. Great Time Coming. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995. Weidhorn, Manfred. Jackie Robinson. New York: Macmillan, 1993. Shapiro, Milton J. Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973.
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Jackie Robinson
By: Jovar Joyce
E-mail: Puffy10600@aol.com
Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it had on other lives” (Jackie Robinson, 4). That quote has a lot of meaning to it. An impact is the effect or impression of one thing on another. The life he lived made an impact on people’s lives when he was living and after he died. An impact can be sometimes good sometimes bad. Martin Luther King Jr’s impact was a good in the eyes of some people and bad in the eyes of others. Sometimes you have a bad impact like Adolf Hitler. Jackie Robinson made an impact on other lives by breaking the color barrier for baseball, helping with the civil rights movement and helping out in different charities. Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 30, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia to Jerry and Mallie (McGriff) Robinson (Grolier Encyclopedia, 1). He didn’t really have any memories about his father (Encyclopedia Britannic, 1). Jackie Robinson had a sister and three brothers (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). When he was eighteen months old his mother and his uncle moved them to Pasadena, California where he was raised (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). When he was growing up he had to help his mother and his siblings by helping to support the family. Mrs. Robinson worked at “odd domestic jobs.” Jackie delivered newspapers, collected junk, sold “hot dogs” at sporting events and whatever other odd jobs he could find to help support the family (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). When he had free time he would try to follow in his brother Mack’s footsteps, who once set a world record for sprinting and placed second in track to Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic games (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). Jackie Robinson saw a lot of discrimination when he was growing up, but he managed to do well in sports. He received twenty-four letters as an athlete, he was the only person to ever be selected to play in the College All-Star game in both football and basketball, and he was a lieutenant for the army (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). Jackie Robinson also was the founder of the first black owned bank in New York City (Jackie Robinson, 9). Martin Luther King and Harriet Tubman all had an impact on Jackie Robinson. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a deep meaning to Jackie Robinson. Lastly if Harriet Tubman would not have helped to free the slaves he would not have even made an impact on anyone. All of this would lead to his success in life. Jackie Robinson, through the hard times, managed to still make an impact on others lives by breaking the color barrier for baseball. He was not the first black player in major league baseball nor was he the first star athlete who was African American (Jackie Robinson, 8). It was at the age of twenty-six that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1). Joe Black once said “All of us had to wait for Jackie”(Jackie Robinson, 2). That is actually true. More blacks started entering the league after that. Willie Mays once said “Without Jackie I wouldn’t have gotten out of Birmingham” (Jackie Robinson, 2). Which actually goes along with the quote by Joe Black. Hank Aaron really summed it all up when he said, “Jackie passed a torch on to every black player” (Jackie Robinson, 3). Jackie Robinson was the first African American player to win a batting title, lead the league in stolen bases, play in an All-Star game, play in the World Series, win a Most Valuable Player award and gain election to the Hall of Fame (Jackie Robinson, 8). Jackie said “I’m not concerned with you liking of disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being” (Jackie Robinson, 4). But Jackie had more impacts just than the color barrier for baseball. Even though everyone focused on just his breaking of the color barrier he managed to make an impact another way, through helping out in the civil rights movements. Enos Slaughter’s lunge at Jackie Robinson, spikes first into second base causing a seven-inch gash because he allegedly hated blacks and Robinson receiving threatening notes to kill him are some influences to help in civil rights movements (Jackie Robinson, 8). Some others are striking against playing with or against him on the field and picketing at a hotel by the Ku Klux Klan in Atlanta (Jackie Robinson, 13). He started helping out with the Civil Rights movement after he retired from baseball in 1956 (Jackie Robinson, 9). He helped with the Texas Civil Rights Project (Jackie Robinson, 1). Through this he helped raise money to pay the legal fees of Texans whose civil rights have been violated (Jackie Robinson, 1). Jackie Robinson dedicated his life to improving African American’s status in society (Jackie Robinson, 9). Jackie also says that he has been influenced by an “earnest desire to contribute to the advancement and recognition of the Negro race” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 3). He even had prominent leaders like Martin Luther King Jr’s and Jesse Jackson look to him for guidance (Jackie Robinson, 9). Jackie Robinson set the path for Rosa Parks by refusing to vacate a seat in the front of an army bus in 1944. He was acquitted and Honorably Discharged (Jackie Robinson, 9). Some famous quotes that come from him dealing with Civil Rights are “I do not think that I or any other Negro, as and American citizen, should have to ask for anything that is rightfully his. We are demanding that we just be given the things that are rightfully ours and we are not looking for anything else,” and “There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.” (Jackie Robinson, 4). After retirement he also became active with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was one of the organizations main speakers at fund-raisers and rallies. He received a NAACP's Spingarn Medal for meritorious service to black America. He even raised 1 million dollars for the Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense (Jackie Robinson: A life Remembered, 97). He often played close attention to politics. One of his quotes says “ I guess you’d call me an independent, since I’ve never identified myself with one party or another in politics.” I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label” (Jackie Robinson, 5). In 1963 Jackie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Birmingham, Alabama where Sheriff Bull Connor was using physical intimidation to harass blacks. Robinson and Dr. King spoke at church meetings and other protest gatherings in Birmingham. Jackie Robinson was determined to get Blacks their freedom any way possible. Jackie Robinson made another impact on others by helping out with charities and the homeless. Jackie Robinson worked with the Habitat for Humanity to build homes for underprivileged residents of Austin, Texas. He would also volunteer at fairs and clothing giveaways to help the less fortunate children sponsored by El Buen Samaritano mission in Austin(Jackie Robinson 1). He even painted numbers on the streets for the elderly people so their houses could be more easily identified by Meals on Wheels personnel delivering food. Last Jackie Robinson even volunteered at Caritas Food Bank in Austin to help distribute canned goods to the needy (Jackie Robinson, 1). His daughter, Sharon Robinson, followed in her fathers footsteps by helping with charities also. Jackie Robinson also took time out to coach basketball. He started coaching right 1 year before he joined the minor leagues. June Harden Brewer said about Jackie “I was always impressed with his warmth and friendliness...” (Jackie Robinson, 12). Mr. Brewer also said “Thank heaven for a person who had the integrity, forethought, interest, and intelligence that Jackie Robinson had” (Jackie Robinson, 14). He also set up and worked with drug prevention programs (Compton’s Encyclopedia, 1). Jackie was an overall generous person. Through the hard times Jackie Robinson managed to still make an impact on the mid 20th century and beyond by breaking the color barrier for baseball, volunteering to help the needy, and helping out with Civil Rights Movements. Athletes in many sports, notably Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul-Jabar, have cited Robinson’s influence on their careers and in their lives. Many current athletes wear his uniform number, 42, as a tribute (Jackie Robinson, 9). No one will ever forget Jackie Robinson’s famous words “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others lives.”
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Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was the first baseball player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier that segregated major league baseball for more than 50 years. On October 23, 1945, Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Montreal Royals that would eventually bring him to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the spring of 1947. This made him the first African American in modern organized baseball. Jackie Robinson went to UCLA where he became an All-American in football and basketball. He also played baseball and ran track. In 1947, when Robinson finally put on a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, he started the integration of professional athletics in America. He strongly challenged the deep-rooted custom of racial segregation in both the North and South. Players in MLB actually considered going on strike instead of playing against a black person. However, they were told that anyone who did not play would be banned from baseball. Eventhough the players were told this, it didn't stop them and the fans from threatening Jackie Robinson. From this, Jackie unintentionally set a record for being hit by more pitches in one season then anyone else in history. Being the strong-minded person he was, it was very hard for Jackie to just sit there and not retaliate. He had promised Branch Ricky he would never fight back, because if he did Ricky would have terminated Jackie's contract. Jackie Robinson had become a great leader for the African American community and essentially passed the torch for other black players. Teams saw how successful other teams were with black players so they picked up the pace and started to sign black players. There were still some teams, including the New York Yankees that passed up on black players. The Yankees wanted an all white team and because of that, they passed up players that became hall of famers. Between 1947 and 1951, there was an influx of black players into the league. Once these players got into the league, they began to fight for the right to integrate spring training in order for the player's families to attend. The second half of Jackie Robinson's career was all for the Civil Rights movement. A main goal for him was to improve the African American status in society. Part of this started when he refused to accept segregation at white-only hotels and restaurants in his playing days. This started integration. In 1944, he had been a lieutenant in the Army and was court-martialed for refusing to vacate a seat in an army bus. He was acquitted and given an honorable discharge. After he retired from baseball in 1956, Jackie became very active in the NAACP and the civil rights movement. He founded the first black owned bank in New York City and leaders like Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson looked to him for guidance. Robinson had also worked with Malcolm X. Jackie Robinson was definitely one of the most important athletes of the 20th century. Jackie not only had an impact on baseball, but on other sports and American society as well. Besides being a great athlete, he was also a civil rights champion and community activist. Jackie Robinson had the courage to stand alone in a very tough situation where a lot of other people would most likely need help. Jackie certainly revolutionized the way the game was played and great athletes like Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have praised Jackie for impacting their lives. Many say that if Robinson hadn't broken the color barrier, someone else would have. That is true but nobody would have done it the way Jackie did it. Not too many players even these days have the kind of talent he had. Jackie Robinson touched many lives. He said it best when he said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives". Number 42 did just that.
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Jackie Robinson
By: SETH
E-mail: traderpete98@yahoo.com
Jackie Robinson BY Mark Alvarez For my summer reading I read Jackie Robinson. Before Jackie was born his grandfather was a slave in a Georgia plantation. Jackie was born on January 31, 1919. After six months his father left and his dad left 4 other children for jackie's mom to support them. Jackie's mom was only thirty years old and her half-brother lived in California and she heard that the west better for her sons. she raised money by selling all of her possessions. Then she left Georgia on a train which was very exhausting and when they arrived in Pasadena they were very relieved. Jackie made up a gang called the "Pepper Street Gang" and they played, stole and mostly had fun together. Jackie was a star at all sports when he attended high school. Jackie had a idol and it was his brother. His brother was one of the fastest sprinters and the longest jumper in the world. Mack was in was in the Olympics in Berlin. Jackie met Rachel Isum the woman later would marry. Jackie got a job in the army and that's when Jackie's fight for equal rights started. In 1945 Branch Rickey was the president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He had a black or also called the, " Negro Leagues". Jackie agreed to play with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945. He knew that he would be competing against the best blackplayers in the country. Then Jackie moved to Chicago. Branch Rickey Sent out scouts to Chicago then they focused on Jackie Robinson. Then in august 1945 Rickey sent out a scout to meet with Jackie and told him he should come back with him to talk to Rickey about joining the Brown Dodgers. Jackie's Meeting was one of the most famous meetings of his career. Then he got the job as a pitcher. But Rickey got mad at him and swung his fist and said," what do u do"? He couldn't give a reason so he said I'm sorry. Then he signed up for the Montreal Royals went to Venezuela to play in a black all-star league. Jackie broke the color baseball barrier. Then a year later he signed up again for the Royals' and had a hitting average at .349 in 1946. Then Rickey in 1949 let Jackie sign up for the Dodgers. At first Mr. Rickey thought it would bring bad publicity but he thought it would brake barriers. Then other doors from the dodger would open for blacks. After a while people and some of the players got mad at the Dodgers and they hated the black players then Pee Wee Reese eased Jackie's Acceptance but players and fans. The 1947 season put a lot of pressure on Jackie but held in and he score very well. Through the years he played with the Dodger he had six world series awards. Then Jackie was moved to first base because of Gil Hodges. Then after baseball He was put into the Hall of Fame and he did a famous speech. His son was killed in a car crash in 1971. Jackie died at the age of 53.
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Jackie Robinson
"When things look dark, void, and altogether hopeless to the colored youth of America . . . when they need an inspiring thought that should urge them onward to the road of achievement despite forbidding obstacles, they will only need to read of and reflect upon the remarkable life of Jackie Robinson."--The Kansas City Call. This quote is saying that if black young athletes need a role model or someone to look up to in desperate times of need, they should look back at the life of Jackie Robinson and how he overcame adversity to make something of himself. Black kids should look at this and say to themselves if he can do it, and his achievements should give not just young blacks courage to become successful. When one looks at America, it is an understatement to say that the country is much different today than it was fifty years ago. Racism today makes up images of job discrimination, subtle differences, economic disparity and occasional violence. Racism in the forties and fifties included all of the above, but also included denial of the right to vote, refusal of service in some restaurants, and state imposed segregation that, in many areas, was so strict, it was even illegal for blacks and whites to play checkers. Blacks weren't allowed to attend the same schools, drink the same water, or use the same bathrooms as whites. Separate but equal laws kept black and whites apart. If you were black and lived in the south, you lived with a fear buried inside of you everyday, that one wrong move would cost you your life. Then came along the savior for young black athletes a man with courage, dignity, and strength to over come anything that stood in his way. His name was Jackie Robinson and he was the first black player to make it in professional baseball. Throughout his lifetime Robinson changed not only the game of baseball, but the whole world as well. Despite what you may read, Jackie Robinson was not the first black player in major league baseball, many others came before him but none of them could make it. Racial discrimination kept so many young black athletes out of professional sports especially baseball. Not only did Jackie help pave the way for black athletes, but he also gave them courage to be anything that they wanted to be no matter what anyone said. He gave blacks a chance in a white world, and also made white people aware that anything that they could do he could do better. (Through out my paper I will talk about Jackie Robinson’s life growing up in the city of Pasadena, his college and military years and then I will go on to explain how Jackie changed not only the game of baseball, but also how he paved the way for young black athletes to make something of themselves.)
Jackie Robinson will always be remembered as the person who broke the color barrier in American athletics. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children in a family of sharecroppers. His father abandoned them shortly after Jackie was born. And at the urging of her half brother, his mother moved her family, along with her mother, Mallie, to Pasadena, California. Jackie's family experienced the hardships of so many other Black families; poverty, segregation and bigotry. Jackie's exceptional athletic talent was shown early in his life. He was very competitive and excelled in whatever sport he attempted. In 1936 he won the junior boy's singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament; and later, the table-tennis championship of the Army while he was in the service. However, it was on the playing fields where he experienced the friendly relationships with various races; Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and whites. In college, first at Pasadena Junior College and then at UCLA where he had earned a scholarship, he became the first four-letter athlete in UCLA history. However, he left college before graduating. He felt that his athletic talents would not be too beneficial in a world of segregated sports. Jackie joined the National Youth Administration and worked with disadvantaged youth and played baseball. He also played semi-pro football and basketball to earn extra money until he was drafted into the army in 1941. After completing basic training, Jackie Robinson applied for Officer Candidate School. Even though he and several other Blacks had passed all test and other requirements they were denied that opportunity. It took the intervention of Joe Louis, who had been temporarily assigned to same base, to get Robinson admitted. After his graduation as a second lieutenant, he was sent to Texas. There he experienced the segregation of The South. Predating Rosa Parks, Robinson refused to give up his seat on a military bus and move to the back. For this he was put on trial on bogus charges, as segregated seating on military buses had been outlawed. Robinson was proven guilty and later received an honorable discharge.
Robinson often played in baseball games while he was stationed in Texas. And while doing so, his talent was observed by Hilton Smith, a pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs. Due to the strict racial divide in professional sports, Blacks had to develop their own leagues. The Kansas City Monarchs was the only all-Black team that Robinson ever played with. He played with them only one year. For shortly after joining them he caught the eye of scouts for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch Rickey, the Dodger general manager, had wanted to bring several Blacks into the majors together. It was Robinson that was selected because, in addition to his athletic ability, his strength of character indicated that he could withstand the pressure. Robinson was assigned to the Dodger's minor league team in Montreal, Canada. Soon after he was moved up the major league Dodger team. Throughout his whole major league career he faced racism and bigotry. Everyday he would go to the fields and get things thrown at him, he would be spit at, called names even by his own teammates. But everyday he performed and soon became the best player in the league, and is still one of the best players of all time.
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Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson (1919-72) Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia., on January 31, 1919 to Jerry and Mallie Robinson. He grew up in Pasadena, California. In high school and at Pasadena Junior College he showed great athletic skill in track, basketball, football, and baseball. He left school in 1941 and was drafted the following year for Army service during World War II. After receiving a medical discharge in 1945, Jackie Robinson decided to tryout for the Boston Red Sox, but ended up not making the team. He spent a year playing baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League. Later he played in the 1946 season with the Montreal Royals, a Dodgers farm club, and led the International League in hitting with a .349 average. He stole 40 bases and scored 113 runs. When the Dodgers opened their 1947 season, Robinson was playing second base. On April 10, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player to sign a major league contract in the 20th century. During his first game, Jackie went hitless in three at-bats, but flawlessly handled 11 chances at first base. In 1947, Jackie hit .297 and stole 29 bases while also playing first base for the Dodgers. Jackie led the National League in stolen bases and was named rookie of the year. The main problem he had to overcome was controlling his short temper after hearing so many racial remarks from the crowds and other ball players, including his own teammates. On July 12, 1949, Jackie Robinson made his All-Star game debut for the National league. This was the first time that a black player participated in an All-Star game. On October 6, 1949, Jackie Robinson scored the only run in the Dodgers 1-0 win over the New York Yankees in game two of the World Series. This was the only game that the Dodgers won in the 1949 World Series. In 1949, with a .342 average, he was named the most valuable player in the league. He was one of the game's best base runners, with a total of 197 stolen bases. The Dodgers won six National League pennants during Robinson's ten playing years. On December 13, 1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers traded Jackie Robinson to the Dodger's rival team, the New York Giants in hopes that Robinson would be able to boost the low attendance. He was being traded for a pitcher named Dick Littlefield and $35,000 in cash. At this time, Robinson was having problems with his legs and was thinking about quitting baseball. Less than a month later, Jackie retired from baseball in 1956 with a lifetime batting average of .311. On January 23, 1962, the Baseball Writers Association of America elected Jackie Robinson to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Robinson became the first African-American to be elected. After retirement he became a vice-president of a New York restaurant firm and the president of a land-development company. From 1964 to 1968 he served as special assistant for civil rights to Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York. He also worked with drug-prevention programs. Robinson starred in the motion picture The Jackie Robinson Story which was made in 1950 and was the author, with Alfred Duckett, of I Never Had It Made in 1972. On October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died from a heart attack at the age of 53 in Stamford, Connecticut. Ten days earlier, Robinson had thrown out the first pitch at the beginning of the second game in the 1972 World Series.
Bibliography
Not Available.
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Blacks in Major League Baseball
By: Alex Woodruff
E-mail: awood15@hotmail.com
Blacks in Major League Baseball April 15th will bring the fifty-third anniversary of the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. Blacks have now been an integral part of the game of baseball for the last fifty-three years and are continuing to find their place within the game. This term paper will discuss the history of blacks in major league baseball, the role that they play now and how the game of baseball brings some form of liberation to the black people. Blacks have come a long way in the game of baseball. Athletics, and in this case baseball, have become a form of liberation for the black people, whether they are playing the game or are simply fans of the players that play the game. So when did blacks become a part of major league baseball and how far have they come since 1947? Let’s go back to April 15, 1947. The Brooklyn Dodgers were playing in their season opener against the Boston Braves in Brooklyn. Everything had the feel of a traditional opening day of baseball, with excitement filling the air. On this day, however, there was a little more excitement floating around than usual. Playing first base for the Dodgers was Jackie Robinson. Now that may not sound like a big deal to most, but it was a huge deal not only for Jackie, but for black people all over the United States. Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play in the major leagues, thus breaking the color barrier that had been part of the game for over a half century. This created a new place in the game for blacks and allowed for many others to display their athletic talents and skills in a whole new league. Previous to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, blacks were relegated to playing in the proud but less recognizable Negro Leagues. There were many stars that played in the Negro Leagues such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, to name a few, but that league simply did not allow enough recognition to the players. There was a need for the black baseball players to be able to compete at the highest level, on a bigger stage that would allow more people to see their talents. During the time when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, many of the white baseball players were at or finishing up in World War II. This gave some of the owners of the teams in the major leagues a reason to go out and look for more players that were actually good. So maybe the fact that our country was at war actually helped integrate blacks into baseball and triggered the many that have followed in Jackie Robinson’s footsteps. There are many black professional baseball players today and the trend is continuing to increase. I look at a player like Sammy Sosa. He plays for the Chicago Cubs and over the last two years has been hitting home runs at an unbelievable pace. This is creating such an excitement within the black community and in Sosa’s native Dominican Republic. But, not only is it bringing excitement to blacks across the world, but white people have also recognized him for his achievements and begun to watch the highlight shows every night just to see how Sammy is doing or if he is hitting more home runs. This is one area that proves to me that baseball has come a long way in that blacks are now looked upon as great ballplayers, and not the “black ballplayer.” Many of the great players currently in the major leagues are black. Some of the superstars such as Ken Griffey Jr., Sosa, and Pedro Martinez are black and this is giving an incredible boost to the black population. While I realize that playing in the major leagues is a difficult goal to attain for anyone, this is bringing a form of liberation to blacks all over the world. I realize that major league baseball does not employ a majority of blacks in the United States, but the liberation for the blacks does not necessarily have to come directly from the league. The player salaries for major leaguers have become rather outrageous, and with salary contributions to charities and other things, this is bringing more money into black communities. Yes, there is a small amount of the black population playing in the major leagues, but there is also a small amount of whites playing too. The fact is, only a small fraction of the population of the United States is playing in the major leagues. That is not where I feel that the liberation comes from. I feel that the liberation for the black people comes through watching some of their fellow members succeed in such high profile positions. It brings joy to members of the black community to see them succeeding now, only fifty-three years after being allowed to participate in the game that they have enjoyed for just as long as the whites, but not allowed to compete on the same level because of racial differences. Major league baseball managers have long been the same as what baseball was for the first half of the 20th century; dominated by whites. The number of black managers is still relatively low, but hopefully progress will continue to be made. There are a few black managers currently managing such as Dusty Baker and Don Baylor, both whom are former major league players. The reason that there are probably not more black managers is that they have not been around major league baseball as long as whites. If you consider that a lot of managers in the majors are former players, then this makes a little bit of sense because white people have been playing the in the major leagues much longer. There are many people pushing not only for more black managers, but more minority managers in general. There are probably many reasons for these feelings but I can see what would be considered the major one. With more black and other minority players, people in those communities are pushing for more minority coaches to be there to support the players instead of predominately white coaches. The last area that I will cover is the future of blacks in major league baseball. The future of major league baseball, in itself, lies within the development of youths to become interested in the game and develop their skills to become as good as they can possibly be. This interest is being developed by more inner city blacks now than ever before in the history of baseball. Excitement within the black community is increasing by watching players such as Griffey, Sosa and Martinez, and that is allowing more kids to want to play the game. The development of skills will begin when the kids are young, but will be enhanced when they either reach college or in the minor leagues. More opportunities are opening up throughout the nation in colleges for blacks to play baseball because now people know that they can play at a very high level. All of these factors together will keep increasing the excitement for blacks all over and keep the future within baseball looking very bright. Over the last fifty-three years, blacks have become an integral part of major league baseball and are continuing to grow within the sport. The excitement that is within the black community at this point and time is great and I believe that it will continue to grow. Not all blacks will have a chance to play in the major leagues, but most of them will have a favorite player, or a role model, that they look up to and wish to emulate. From Jackie Robinson to Ken Griffey Jr., there have been many great moments created by black people throughout the last half century in the major leagues. Many blacks have major league records that are still in place today, the most notable being Henry Aaron and his 755 career home runs. The numbers for blacks are astounding over the years and with the excitement around the game now, there is no reason to believe that it will change in the future. As far as major league baseball is concerned, Jackie Robinson paved the way for many blacks in baseball, and there have been many to follow his lead.
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Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson was one of the best players that proffesional baseball has ever seen and greatly helped major league baseball accept African American players that otherwise would not have palyed.
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia (Hill 1). Jackie’s grandfather was a slave and his father a sharecropper (1). His mom and dad got a divorce when Jackie was just a baby (1). He, his mother and four siblings moved after his parents got a divorce (1). His mother took all the children and moved to Pasedena, California (1).
Not long after the family moved to Pasedena, Jackie’s mother enrolled him into Pasedena Junior College (“Robinson, Jackie”). He went on to University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) (1). Jackie was a standout in school sports at UCLA, he played football, baseball, basketball, and track (1). He later left college in the middle of his junior year to join the Army in 1941 (1). Four years after entering the Army Jackie was discharged because of a confrentation with another officer when he would not give up his seat on a military bus (1). He was discharged as a first Lieutenant (1).
After leaving the Army Jackie wanted to play baseball, his favorite sport. He tried out for many teams and was drafted by the Kansas City Monarchs Negro League Team (Hill 1). The Negro League schedule was very tuff. The team was always on the road playing games. Jackie did not like the life style of being on the Monarchs (“Robinson, Jackie”). He and his teammates would have to withstand the racial tensions everywhere they went (Ward, Burns 285) . While Jackie was playing in the Negro Leagues, Branch Rickey, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager was secretly sending out scouts to look at Jackie and other players in the Negro leagues that stood out above the rest fo their baseball talent (Hill 1). Rickey made the excuse to the scouts that he wanted to put together an all black baseball team called the “Brown Dodgers” (2). He was really looking for the right black player that would break the color barrier in professional baseball (1). Rickey looked at all his options and he chose Jackie Robinson of the Kansas City Monarchs (1). He chose Jackie because of his skills in baseball and his courage (1).
Branch and Jackie met on August 28, 1945 to discuss his signing to the LA Dodgers (1). The meeting was very important because rickey wanted to make sure Robinson would not retaliate against the racist comments that he will be facing if he was moved up to the LA Dodgers (2). Rickey sent Robinson to the semi-professional team the Dodgers had, the Montreal Royals (“Robinson, Jackie”). While Robinson was with the Royals, he was he was an athletic standout with a lot of talent for playing professional baseball (Hill 1). He enjoyed playing on the Montreal Royals because race was not really an issue in Canada and he was very popular all over the country (“Robinson, Jackie”). He led the Royals to the minor league championship (Rydell 86).
The next season Robinson got moved up to the Los Angeles Dodgers professional team late in spring training, only five days before the Dodgers first game (86). This gave the critics not much time to react to the new player in the league (86). On April 15, 1947 Jackie became the first black player to play major league baseball in the United States (87). Robinson’s moving to the team caused national outrage between coaches, teams, and fans (87). His new teammates signed a petition to get him off the team just because he was black (Ward, Burns 283). The general managers and head coaches of the Dodgers including Branch Rickey and Pee Wee Reese kept him on the team and encouraged him to stay and ignore the racial slurs and name calling (Ward, Burns 283). Other teams tried to boycott, but it did not work (Rydell 86). Robinsons first games were the hardest (86). He had many death threats made against him (“Robinson, Jackie”). The hotels that Robinson went to with the team would not serve him because blacks were not allowed (“Robinson, Jackie”). Even though he would not get served at restaurants and hotels, he always kept his composier and never lost his temper (Ward, Burns 283). Robinson was always called names but he just ignored them and took a non-violent approach to the situation (“Robinson, Jackie).
After many games Robinson started winning the respect of his fellow teammates, other teams, and fans by not fighting back (Rydell 86). Not only was Robinson the only black player in the major leagues, but he was also one of the best. Stadiums filled with record numbers of fans came to watch him play baseball (Hill 2). By the end of his first year, he was a major league superstar (1). Robinson led the majors in stolen bases and was second in scored runs (1). He was voted Rookie of the Year for the 1948 season (2).
Robinson had a very successful baseball career. He proved all of his critics wrong, they said Rickey only wanted him because he was black and not how well he could play baseball (Rydell 87). He proved his critics wrong the very first game he played with the LA Dodgers(87). He had four hits, including one homerun and two stolen bases (87). After his spectacular first game Robinson started getting death threats, but ignored them and he kept on playing (Hill 1).
After leading a successful career in baseball Robinson retired from the game in 1957 (Ward, Burns 289). The LA Dodgers also retired his number (Ward, Burns 289). He opened a chain of restaurants in New York and moved on to persue another dream, to help other black people become successful like he did (Hill 2). He first joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was on the board of directors (Ward, Burns 289). In 1963 he started getting involved with the civil rights movement (Enders 1). Robinson teamed up with Martin Luther King Jr. and went to Birmingham, Alabama to speak out against racism. King and Robinson went to many gatherings around the Birmingham area to speak out against racism (Enders 1). The two had a very hard time getting people together to speak to them because of all the violence that was happening as a result of the racist south and the black movement (Enders 2). In 1963, while Robinson and King were going from church to church speaking they learned that an NAACP officer Medgar Evers was murdered (2). Shortly after the murder Robinson sent a letter to President John F. Kennedy asking him to give Martin Luther King secret service protection (3). Kennedy gave them the protection and later on August 28, 1963 Robinson took his family to see Martin Luther Kings famous “I have a dream” speech (3).
Later in 1964, the Governor of New York and Republican presidential candidate Nelson Rockefeller asked Robinson if he wanted to be one of his campaign directors (3). He worked on the campaign for a short while until Rockefeller lost Barry Goldwater (3). In 1967 while Robinson was getting angry with the NAACP and he resigned because he thought they were not radical enough to take charge of the movement (3).
While Robinson was still very frustrated and not satisfied with the way things were going, he got a call from Hubert Humphery. He was a presidential candidate from Minnesota. Humphery asked Robinson to campaign along side him and give speeches about the black rights movement. But Humphery lost to Richard Nixon (3). One reason why the two candidates that Robinson went with ended up losing was because America still did not like politicians that helped black people and that went along with their views (4). After the elections time was wearing down Robinson and he went back home to live with his family (4). At his old age Robinson had endured a lot of pain. Many of the close friends he had and family members had died including, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcom X who were all assassinated. Also his mother Mallie, Branch Rickey, and his son Jackie Junior who died in a car accident at the age of 24 (Hill 2). Near the end his life, Robinson was invited to throw the first pitch of the 1972 World Series. He died of a heart attack ten days later at the age of 53 (2).
Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player and an equally great civil rights leader. Although he never got to see the integration of black people in the United States, his efforts helped a lot of people. He was one of the great American heroes and is an American legend. His courage gave the strength to other black athletes to persue their dreams. -------------------------------------------------- Outline
Thesis Statement Jackie Robinson was one of the best players that professional baseball has ever seen and greatly helped major league baseball accept African American players that otherwise would not have played.
I. Early Years A. History 1. School 2. Background B.Family 1.Five Siblings 2. Son of a Share Cropper
II.School A.College 1. Pasadena Junior College 2. UCLA B.School Sports 1. Baseball favorite 2. Excelled in four sports
III. Baseball A.Semi Pros 1. Monarchs 2. Royals B. Pros 1. LA Dodgers 2. Retirement
IV.Civil Rights A. Civil Movement 1. Martin Luther King 2. Birmingham, Alabama B. NAACP 1. On board of directors 2. Resigned
V. Later Years A. Diseases 1. Diabetes 2. Heart Problems B.Deaths of loved ones 1. three friends assassinated 2. Family members --------------------------------------------------
Works Cited
“Robinson, Jackie” Computer Software. Encarta. Microsoft Corporation, 1996. IBM
Rydell, Wendell. Sports Greats Past and Present. New York: Interlyth, LTD. 1974: 86-87
Enders, Eric. Jackie Robinson and the Civil Rights Movement. www.utexas.edu
Hill, Gary. Jackie Robinson was Never Satisfied. www.sound.net
Ward, Geoffry C.; Burns, Ken. Baseball an Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994
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THE BEGINNING
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairok, Georgia. To sharecroppers, Mallie and Jerry Robinson, he was the youngest child. Frustrated and overwhelmed, Jackie Robinson’s father abandoned his wife and five children, alone and unable to meet the physical demands of the farm, she moved her children to Pasadena, California.
Although California was an improvement over their southern life, the Robinsons lived in cramped apartment, at time without enough food, and eventually they had to go on welfare. The family also had to suffer the verbal abuse and repeated attempts to drive them from their home. But, Mallie Robinson refused to give in to their racism.
Jackie’s childhood was not good. He was a fair student and had to work several part time jobs. However, for a while, he was involved in small crimes with a street gang. This didn’t last long because he received encouragement from a man named Carl Anderson, a local mechanic, he was able to refocus his energies in more positive pursuits –athletics.
UCLA
Jackie’s true passion was now playing sports and he excelled at everything he tried. His proficiency at football, track, baseball and basketball earned him a scholarship to UCA, where he was the first student to concurrently play on four varsity teams. It was at UCLA that he met his future wife, Rachel Isum.
Robinson did not finish his senior year at UCLA. At the age of 21, he joined a group called the National Youth Administration. There he played baseball to entertain campers and worked with children whom had disadvantages. He earn extra money to send to his family back home by playing for a semi-professional football team, know as the Honolulu Bears.
The Army
In March of 1942, Jackie was drafted and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. Here too, race played a defining role in the options available for black men. After completing basic training, Jackie applied to the Officer’s Candidate School (OCS), a program that trained qualified solders to become officers.
Even with a university education and having passed all the requirements, Jackie and other black soldiers were not accepted. Jackie soon realized that the army had no real desire to enroll and train black officers. Jackie was soon admitted after the intervention of heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. Louis, was temporarily assigned to Fort Riley, used his popularity and connections to get Robinson and other black solders admitted to the OCS. 1943 at the age of 24 Jackie graduated from OCS a second lieutenant. Jackie was honorably discharged from the army in November 1944 the armed forces were integrated in 1949,
Family Life
Jackie and Rachel Isum married in 1946, six years after their first meeting and shortly after he signed his historic contract with the Dodgers. While Jackie played with the Dodgers Rachel earned a nursing degree at UCLA and she was a devoted wife and mother. She later returned to school and earned a master degree in nursing from New York University. The later taught at Yale’s University School of Nursing. Their first child, Jackie Jr. was born in 1946, their only daughter Sharon was born in 1950, and their third child, David, in 1952.
The pressures of living and growing up in the public eye and in the shadows of a historic legend was difficult for the Robinson children.
Jackie Scores
When he began playing for the Dodgers in 1947, at the age of 28 Jackie was older than the typical rookie. Baseball fans and played reacted to Robinson with everything from beanball pitches to death threats. His athletic abilities prevailed despite the intense pressures caused by breaking the color line.
After a few season of playing well while tolerating racial insults, Robinson stepped up his playing style and spoke out often. Robinsons outstanding 10-year career included compiling a .311 lifetime batting average, playing in six World Series, and stealing home 19 times. He also won the National Legaue Most Valuable Player award in 1949, when he led the league with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases.
Robinson’s Conclusion
Jackie Robinson decided to retire from baseball after the 1956 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His forceful spirit inspired both his playing on the field and his civil rights work afterwards.
On October 15, 1972, Robinson attended a World Series game that included a commemoration for the 25th Anniversary of breaking the color line. In his televised speech, Robinson again pushed baseball to employ blacks in more capacities: “I’d like to live to see a black manager, I’d like to live to see the day when there’s a black man coaching at third base” .
Nine days later, on October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. The first black manager, Frank Robinson, was hired in 1975 by the Cleveland Indians.
THE BEGINNING
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairok, Georgia. To sharecroppers, Mallie and Jerry Robinson, he was the youngest child. Frustrated and overwhelmed, Jackie Robinson’s father abandoned his wife and five children, alone and unable to meet the physical demands of the farm, she moved her children to Pasadena, California.
Although California was an improvement over their southern life, the Robinsons lived in cramped apartment, at time without enough food, and eventually they had to go on welfare. The family also had to suffer the verbal abuse and repeated attempts to drive them from their home. But, Mallie Robinson refused to give in to their racism.
Jackie’s childhood was not good. He was a fair student and had to work several part time jobs. However, for a while, he was involved in small crimes with a street gang. This didn’t last long because he received encouragement from a man named Carl Anderson, a local mechanic, he was able to refocus his energies in more positive pursuits –athletics.
UCLA
Jackie’s true passion was now playing sports and he excelled at everything he tried. His proficiency at football, track, baseball and basketball earned him a scholarship to UCA, where he was the first student to concurrently play on four varsity teams. It was at UCLA that he met his future wife, Rachel Isum.
Robinson did not finish his senior year at UCLA. At the age of 21, he joined a group called the National Youth Administration. There he played baseball to entertain campers and worked with children whom had disadvantages. He earn extra money to send to his family back home by playing for a semi-professional football team, know as the Honolulu Bears.
The Army
In March of 1942, Jackie was drafted and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. Here too, race played a defining role in the options available for black men. After completing basic training, Jackie applied to the Officer’s Candidate School (OCS), a program that trained qualified solders to become officers.
Even with a university education and having passed all the requirements, Jackie and other black soldiers were not accepted. Jackie soon realized that the army had no real desire to enroll and train black officers. Jackie was soon admitted after the intervention of heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. Louis, was temporarily assigned to Fort Riley, used his popularity and connections to get Robinson and other black solders admitted to the OCS. 1943 at the age of 24 Jackie graduated from OCS a second lieutenant. Jackie was honorably discharged from the army in November 1944 the armed forces were integrated in 1949,
Family Life
Jackie and Rachel Isum married in 1946, six years after their first meeting and shortly after he signed his historic contract with the Dodgers. While Jackie played with the Dodgers Rachel earned a nursing degree at UCLA and she was a devoted wife and mother. She later returned to school and earned a master degree in nursing from New York University. The later taught at Yale’s University School of Nursing. Their first child, Jackie Jr. was born in 1946, their only daughter Sharon was born in 1950, and their third child, David, in 1952.
The pressures of living and growing up in the public eye and in the shadows of a historic legend was difficult for the Robinson children.
Jackie Scores
When he began playing for the Dodgers in 1947, at the age of 28 Jackie was older than the typical rookie. Baseball fans and played reacted to Robinson with everything from beanball pitches to death threats. His athletic abilities prevailed despite the intense pressures caused by breaking the color line.
After a few season of playing well while tolerating racial insults, Robinson stepped up his playing style and spoke out often. Robinsons outstanding 10-year career included compiling a .311 lifetime batting average, playing in six World Series, and stealing home 19 times. He also won the National Legaue Most Valuable Player award in 1949, when he led the league with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases.
Robinson’s Conclusion
Jackie Robinson decided to retire from baseball after the 1956 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His forceful spirit inspired both his playing on the field and his civil rights work afterwards.
On October 15, 1972, Robinson attended a World Series game that included a commemoration for the 25th Anniversary of breaking the color line. In his televised speech, Robinson again pushed baseball to employ blacks in more capacities: “I’d like to live to see a black manager, I’d like to live to see the day when there’s a black man coaching at third base” .
Nine days later, on October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. The first black manager, Frank Robinson, was hired in 1975 by the Cleveland Indians.
THE BEGINNING
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairok, Georgia. To sharecroppers, Mallie and Jerry Robinson, he was the youngest child. Frustrated and overwhelmed, Jackie Robinson’s father abandoned his wife and five children, alone and unable to meet the physical demands of the farm, she moved her children to Pasadena, California.
Although California was an improvement over their southern life, the Robinsons lived in cramped apartment, at time without enough food, and eventually they had to go on welfare. The family also had to suffer the verbal abuse and repeated attempts to drive them from their home. But, Mallie Robinson refused to give in to their racism.
Jackie’s childhood was not good. He was a fair student and had to work several part time jobs. However, for a while, he was involved in small crimes with a street gang. This didn’t last long because he received encouragement from a man named Carl Anderson, a local mechanic, he was able to refocus his energies in more positive pursuits –athletics.
UCLA
Jackie’s true passion was now playing sports and he excelled at everything he tried. His proficiency at football, track, baseball and basketball earned him a scholarship to UCA, where he was the first student to concurrently play on four varsity teams. It was at UCLA that he met his future wife, Rachel Isum.
Robinson did not finish his senior year at UCLA. At the age of 21, he joined a group called the National Youth Administration. There he played baseball to entertain campers and worked with children whom had disadvantages. He earn extra money to send to his family back home by playing for a semi-professional football team, know as the Honolulu Bears.
The Army
In March of 1942, Jackie was drafted and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. Here too, race played a defining role in the options available for black men. After completing basic training, Jackie applied to the Officer’s Candidate School (OCS), a program that trained qualified solders to become officers.
Even with a university education and having passed all the requirements, Jackie and other black soldiers were not accepted. Jackie soon realized that the army had no real desire to enroll and train black officers. Jackie was soon admitted after the intervention of heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. Louis, was temporarily assigned to Fort Riley, used his popularity and connections to get Robinson and other black solders admitted to the OCS. 1943 at the age of 24 Jackie graduated from OCS a second lieutenant. Jackie was honorably discharged from the army in November 1944 the armed forces were integrated in 1949,
Family Life
Jackie and Rachel Isum married in 1946, six years after their first meeting and shortly after he signed his historic contract with the Dodgers. While Jackie played with the Dodgers Rachel earned a nursing degree at UCLA and she was a devoted wife and mother. She later returned to school and earned a master degree in nursing from New York University. The later taught at Yale’s University School of Nursing. Their first child, Jackie Jr. was born in 1946, their only daughter Sharon was born in 1950, and their third child, David, in 1952.
The pressures of living and growing up in the public eye and in the shadows of a historic legend was difficult for the Robinson children.
Jackie Scores
When he began playing for the Dodgers in 1947, at the age of 28 Jackie was older than the typical rookie. Baseball fans and played reacted to Robinson with everything from beanball pitches to death threats. His athletic abilities prevailed despite the intense pressures caused by breaking the color line.
After a few season of playing well while tolerating racial insults, Robinson stepped up his playing style and spoke out often. Robinsons outstanding 10-year career included compiling a .311 lifetime batting average, playing in six World Series, and stealing home 19 times. He also won the National Legaue Most Valuable Player award in 1949, when he led the league with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases.
Robinson’s Conclusion
Jackie Robinson decided to retire from baseball after the 1956 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His forceful spirit inspired both his playing on the field and his civil rights work afterwards.
On October 15, 1972, Robinson attended a World Series game that included a commemoration for the 25th Anniversary of breaking the color line. In his televised speech, Robinson again pushed baseball to employ blacks in more capacities: “I’d like to live to see a black manager, I’d like to live to see the day when there’s a black man coaching at third base” .
Nine days later, on October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. The first black manager, Frank Robinson, was hired in 1975 by the Cleveland Indians.
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Reaction The Jackie Robinson Story
By: Sari Antisdel
E-mail: santisdel@yahoo.com
Upon viewing the film, “The Jackie Robinson Story”, one can only ask the question was it really like that? Was Jackie harrassed and tormented by virtually everyone but a select few. This paper will discuss the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of the film, and include ideas based on the whether or not the film accurately portrays Jackie’s life story. I will not only discuss the events of his childhood but also his life as a grown individual. I should first start out by saying that in my opinion the show was very effective at the way that society in general percieved Black Americans. At the beginning of the show, it shows many young boys receiving ground balls from their baseball coach. A young Jackie Robinson was standing on second base and asked politely for his turn. Immediately one coach said to another “Watch this” and proceded to hit a screaming ground ball in his direction. Well Jackie being as well as he was proceded to field the ball and throw it back to the coach as if it were routine to him. Once again the coach said, “Well watch this one”, once again he hit a screaming ground ball, that most kids in high school would not stand in front of, but once again Jackie stabbed it and returned it properly to his coach. This amazed the coach, and not only did it amaze him but also for everyone that witnessed the occurance. What was the big deal you ask? Well he did it without even having a glove on either hand. You see Jackie was to poor to own his own mit. This example shows the what the normal reaction of most caucations was back in the late 1920’s and through the later. The majority at this time was caucasion, and if you were black you were looked upon as not even qualifing as a “human being.” This can also be seen later in the movie when Jackie as a grown man, that is enrolled in a well known athletic institution--UCLA is applying for coaching jobs. There should be no reason that a graduate of UCLA can not find a job somewhere within this country. Since Jackie was somewhat a well-known black athlete he was being denied a job. His brother a graduate of college received a job, but not any job; as a person that cleaned streets for a living. At this time that is the kind of job that Black Americans could hold if they were lucky. When Jackie first set foot on the baseball field, his own coach was asked if he thought that baseball could accept this man into it’s league. The coach responded with “Well, let’s see if I can accept him first.” This film does a great job in portraying the struggles that Jackie and all colored persons endured throughout these times. When his team, the “Panthers” was on the road they had to travel from town to town to play ball games. This was the way they made their money. There were no contracts, there were no fancy hotels waiting for them. They had to stop at diners to see if they could even be fed. To me this is a great portrayal of how they had to struggle between meals. Some place would not even serve them simply because they were black, and when they did get fed they could not sit down in the restaurant and eat they had to eat it on the bus. After Jackie had made the team due to a loyal Branch Rickey, the fans and also some of his own teammates criticized the Dodger Organization. Mainly Rickey himself. Some players petitioned that they would not feel comfortable with Robinson on the team. One instance in the film, was when Jackie was jumped by three gentlemen after his game and then threatened that he better not play in tommorrow’s game or else. These are many examples of the kind of tormenting that was forced upon Robinson, simply because he was a colored athlete trying to make it in a white man’s game. One area in which I disagree with the film is on how everyone reacted toward Robinson as a Black American. I believe that it was more violent than the film portrays. I think that an incident of such magnitude had to have affected his family. I mean that his mother in my opinion probably received some nasty phone calls or letters, the film never shows anything of this sort. I am sure that Robinson probably had a rougher road coming through the organization too. I can not believe that his own teammates accepted him as easily as they did in the film. The film portrays his life after starting baseball as one that has little conflicts. I say this because this man is about to break the color barrier of a game that has consisted of a majority of caucasions since it was introduced to this country long ago. This film focused on the aspect of an inter-racial “Organized Baseball League.” In this paper I have selected this as my main objective to discuss. The film for the most part to me was overall effective. The characters did a great job portraying their roles, the scenes were set up nicely. In my opinion it gave an accurate discription of the kind of troubles that not only Jackie Robinson had to endure but also all persons of different racial backgrouds. Overall the movie was well put together and well structured. It simply could of included a much more realistic point of view of the hardships that all Black American’s encountered because of the effort of one man to help change a larger part of society.
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