Jackie Robson's Progression To The MLB

Jackie Robinson's entry into the Major Leagues was far from a walk in the park. He climbed over countless obstacles just to play with white men, some of which, he was better then. He not only had to compete with the returning players from the war, but he also contended with racism. "Many towns in the South did not want racially mixed teams"(Weidhorn 53). As time went on, cities realized that Robinson offered them free publicity.

join and play for an MLB team, which at the time was the highest pro level for

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he made his MLB debut on April 15, 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie was the first african american to play in the major leagues. When the Dodgers signed him he broke the color barrier in baseball, allowing african american baseball players to play outside of the Negro Leagues. The Dodgers, by playing Robinson, ended racial segregation that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. Jackie served in the military during World War II.

Before Jackie Robinson came around, only white people were aloud to play major league baseball. Baseball was very segregated at this time. If one

The last time that the color line was openly broken in Major League Baseball was in 1880. This was a huge deal. African American fans would start attending Dodger games just to see Jackie play. As amazing as it was to finally have an African American playing in Major League Baseball, there was a lot of racial criticism that came along with it. Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robison was the first African- American person to play in the Major League of Baseball in the United States. Jackie Robison was the wake up call of the controversy in American Baseball history. Robison was a hero to many, the one man who stood up to play in the major league, were it was then “a game for white mans only,” according to many. He was constantly receiving threats, been yelled at, throw things at and most importantly constant racism towards him. He became a legacy, not only in baseball, but also in the American life. He fought his civil rights, where he confronted and face others who had nothing but hatred.

Before Jackie Robinson came around the only people that were allowed to play baseball were white people. In the text it states “ Today you may not be surprised to see an African-American or latino player when you turn the tv to major league baseball.” The Major League Baseball Association has benefited from Jackie Robinson’s bravery.

Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in the modern MLB. Branch Rickey signed Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 because he realized there were many talented athletes in the Negro League. Robinson was on the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. Rickey knew Robinson would get lots of booing and insults on the field, but he knew Robinson could control his anger. The year he entered the Major Leagues the threats, insults and abuse got worse. He didn’t let it get to him and that year, his batting average was .297 and scored 127 runs.

Before 1947, Major League Baseball had never had a black player, although there were Negro Leagues. Jackie Robinson broke that. It takes courage and dedication to chase after something you love. Jackie had that for the game of baseball. The Civil Rights Movement was occurring during the time Jackie enter the Major Leagues, so the times were tough for him. Jackie did more than just play baseball; he introduced a whole new way to play the game, with blacks and whites. He did this by breaking the color barrier and introducing blacks into the Major Leagues, facing discrimination and showing his true passion for the game, and showing that he was looking to help all African-Americans in the civil rights movement.

pril 10, 1947, a date that changed baseball and the world forever. The Brooklyn Dodger’s General Manager, Branch Rickey, gave Jackie Robinson a one-way ticket to the play in the MLB. Robinson had been given a contract to play for the professional baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first ever african to play in the MLB (Major League Baseball ). “ I want a man who has the courage not to fight back,” Rickey had once stated to Robinson. “ If you take this gamble, I will do my best to perform,” Jackie replied. Robinson wasn’t just a game changer for the game, but for all blacks fighting for equality.

In 1947 if you were any race other than white could not play in major league baseball. “Jackie Robinson, took the first steps toward integrating the sport's major league teams when he signed a contract to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947” (Smith para 1). Jackie Robinson was the first African-American player in the major league baseball. If Jackie Robinson didn’t sign to the Dodgers then who knows how segregated baseball or the world in general would be. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the first to sign an African-American on there team. The Brooklyn Dodger coach ask for Jackie Robinson to come out and talk to him.

Dillon Phillips AP Language and Composition Oct, 16, 2014 African American Baseball Influence How have African Americans helped shape the Major League Baseball organization? There have been many players in the Negro Leagues, that could have been assets to the Major Leagues. Until 1947 there had been segregation, known as the “Color Barrier”. Many do not understand how much impact this had on the players, the rule was actually unwritten but was always used.

Since the abolition of slavery in the USA in 1883 and through the first half of the 20th Century, African Americans had been in a constant struggle to try and gain an equal footing in society. Like many aspects of American life, black sportsmen were segregated, and no African American had played professional baseball since 1884. For this reason, the integration of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first African American to play Major League baseball in the modern era had a grand impact on the entire country. From the moment that Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey decided that Robinson would break the colour lone, the history of sport and the history of African Americans would not be the same again. The importance of his integration and the effect it had on civil rights can be looked at in many different ways. It had great effect on the African American community, instilling pride and belief once again in the American Dream for many who had once thought it impossible. It also had significant importance for civil rights groups, and brought about a figure who would fight his peoples quest for equal rights until the day he died. It was a significant risk taken by both Rickey and Robinson, professionally and personally. But it was a risk that both in the short term for African American sport, and in the long run for African American civil rights, was ultimately well worth taking.

When asked to describe a baseball the first word generally voiced is white, and before April 15, 1947 that is exactly what the game of baseball was, white. “There is no law against Negroes playing with white teams, or whites with colored clubs, but neither has invited the other for the obvious reason they prefer to draw their talent from their own ranks” (‘42’). These were the feelings of people living in 1947, that blacks and whites were not meant to play baseball together. Then, why decades earlier, had there been an African American in the league? In 1887, an African American Pitcher, George Stovey, was expected to pitch a game with Chicago, however, the first baseman, Cap Anson, would not play as long as Stovey was on the field. Other

The beginning of the 20th century saw conflict and reform in regards to non- white baseball players playing professionally in leagues like the MLB. Major League Baseball’s “color line” was a huge barrier to baseball players that were not white. The “color line” was the phrase used that meant anyone who was not white could not play in the American or National League in the MLB. Even some amateur and semi-professional leagues did not allow non-white baseball players. This ban was known as the Gentleman’s Agreement. It was an unspoken agreement between owners in the Major League. There were African American players like, Moses “Fleetwood” Walker and his brother Weldy Walker, who played in the American Association in the 1880’s. Unfortunately, their contracts were terminated quickly. By no means were colored baseball players not qualified to play in the Major League, the color barrier prohibited them. Because they could not play in the Major League, teams like the Cuban Giants were created. Teams like this played wherever they could because they lacked a stadium. Many talented colored baseball players could have made a positive contribution to a team’s winning percentages, but were not given the chance. Because the MLB did not integrate African Americans into the league, it caused African American communities not to reap the benefits that would come with integration.