Jackie Robinson: Organized Baseball In The 1940's

He was one of the greatest  baseball players. In 1947, Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African-American baseball player to join the Major Leagues. As an African-American he faced racial discrimination in life and on the baseball diamond. From 1896-1964 racial segregation was legal in the United States.

When looking back at some of the baseball greats, Jackie went through the toughest journeys to the majors. What impressed people the most about Robinson was his inner drive. In the mid 1940’s, when teams looked for new players, they looked for players with high physical ability and high caliber intangibles, but when Frank Rickey looked at Robinson, he looked for patience and competitiveness. When Robinson stepped on the field for the first time as a Brooklyn Dodger, he didn’t just bring his skills and competitive drive, he brought the entire pride of the African American community. As Robinson played his first years as a Dodger, he opened up the door for other talented African Americans such as, who were eager to bring their game to the big leagues as well.

Jackie took on a lot of harassment for being the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues, but he was use to it at this point. He grew up in a very racist city in California called

Over 60 years ago, America began the greatest shift in its society: the Civil Rights Movement. Before this movement began, Jim Crow laws were still in effect segregating blacks in certain schools, bathrooms, and even public buses (History.com). Over time, many in the black communities grew frustrated with the Jim Crow laws, because of their effectiveness in limiting an African American’s pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. With the new emphasis on equality a new athlete was ready to make American history, and it would come on the baseball field. Jackie Robinson, Hall of Fame MLB player, become the first African-American to every play on a Major League Baseball team.

America’s favorite pastime since the early 1800s has been baseball. Ever since Alexander Cartwright of the New York Knickerbockers set the rules for the sport, many amateur baseball teams arose (Zeiler, p. 4). This sport was primarily dominated by the white race, but many African Americans enjoyed the sport as well. One of which was Jackie Robinson. After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Robinson started playing for the Kansas City Monarchs baseball club before he transitioned into white baseball.

Robinson was not allowed to stay in the same hotels as his teammates when they traveled on the road (42). He separate but equal law given by Jim Crow Laws played a huge role in Jackie’s life as he wasn’t allowed to have the same rights as the rest of his team. Robinson proved that black men can do anything and everything that a white man could do, and by being able to put up with all the tormenting and criticism he received in his life proved what a strong man he was. Throughout Robinson’s life, he had a major effect on society through becoming the first African-American to play professional baseball, playing a monumental role in the rights of blacks, and touching the lives of many others through his self-less volunteer work.

Jackie Robinson was someone who changed and impacted baseball history. On April 15th 1947, he became the first African American player in the major leagues, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He faced racial abuse and harassment throughout his career but put it aside and showed everyone how talented he really was. Robinson was named Rookie of the Year in 1947, a World Series champion in 1955, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962. He became the vocal champion for African American athletes and civil rights.

Jackie wasn’t just any baseball player he was also a civil rights leader. Jackie Robinson showed his perseverance by being the first ever African American baseball player by doing that he showed courage and perseverance. Jackie Robinson 's childhood just prepared him for the struggles he would have to deal with when he was older. Jerry, Robinson a sharecropper who farmed land for a large plantation owned by a wealthy white family, and Mallie Mcgriff, Robinson the daughter of a free, slaves were Jackie Robinson’s parents (Hillstrom 134). In, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia neither Jerry or Mallie Robinson could have thought that their newborn son would become the first black Major League Baseball player.

Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player to play in the MLB on an all white baseball team called the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson faced a lot of difficulties with racism and segregation. Some challenges he had to overcome were him not being accepted by his teammates, he got hate mail, threats against him and his family, angry segregated mobs, and a whole lot of rejection because he was black. Jackie Robinson states “ bigoted fans screaming n---” and “ the hate mail piled up.” During his experiences he learned that the world is not accepting and judges a lot based upon what they look like.

The reason for having the Negro Leagues was because it very unlikely to have a colored person be on the same field as a white person. However, one man who stands alone Jackie Robinson’s defeat to break the color barrier in baseball with the help of Branch

Not just in sports, but in the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. During Jackie’s prime, “people began to view him as a spokesman for other African-Americans. He was an outspoken activist for African-Americans’ rights. He participated in many protests for fair wages and workers’ rights.” (Santella)

He was a big part in the fight for equal rights. Jackie Robinson took so much abuse on the field because of his race that it gave him mental breakdowns. These breakdowns sometimes took days to recover from but he went through all of that so other people would have better opportunities. But this didn’t just go on for one season, Robinson had to deal with that racism for about two years before he was really accepted as a “respected” baseball player. (Kuhn,web) and (Wilson,web).

This quote explains his first appearance in the MLB as an African American. Jackie Robinson had his mind set on his goal. He did not give up because he was different. Although he encountered many hardships, he continued to try his hardest and eventually joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. This fits in with what I know because people today are still bashed for their race.

Jackie Robinson not only made impacts on the field that were monumental, but he made impacts off the field that were equally as important. Jackie helped presidents get elected, get kids off the streets and into the most prestigious schools there is, and most importantly he broke the black color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential people to ever live, he did things that people would dream about, he stood up for what he believed. To begin, Jackie’s biggest accomplishment was breaking the black color barrier on baseball, “ Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier that kept blacks out of the Major League Baseball [MLB].

Jackie Robinson challenged white America’s societal perception of African American at the time. “Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947. In later seasons, more African-Americans joined other teams in the Major Leagues, as Robinson continued to excel. His success gained him fans from all over the country.” (Mcbirney 14).