"A Life is not important, But for the impact it has on other's lives."- Jackie Robinson

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"To the average man in the average American community, Jackie Robinson was just what the sports pages said he was, no more, no less. He was the first Negro to play baseball in the major leagues. Everybody knew that. . . . In remembering him, I tend to de-emphasize him as a ball player and emphasize him as an informal civil rights leader. That's the part that drops out, that people forget."- Rachel Robinson

Biography- Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919. Raised primarily by his mother Mallie after his father walked out on him and his five brothers. Jackie worked various odd jobs as a child to help support the family. One of his earliest role models was his brother Mack Robinson, a track star who finished second to Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics. Jackie was a star in the making; he excelled in athletics at UCLA where he became the first athlete to win 4 varsity letters in the same year. (Football, basketball, baseball and track) Robinson was drafted into the Army when World War II broke out, he was soon promoted to second Lieutenant and was eventually given an honorable discharge from the army. After the war Jackie singed a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the Negro Leagues top teams. He started off his career by batting .387 in 1945. In 1946 Branch Rickey manager and president of the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson to the team and assigned him to the Dodgers top minor league team in Canada. Robinson became a hero in Canada where he led the minor league team to the pennant and the championship. After the title winning day in Canada swarms of fans chased Robinson for blocks and one black journalist wrote, "It was probably the only day in history that a black man ran from a white mob with lobe instead of lynching on its mind." (Rappoport & Wilner, p. 19) The stage was set for Robinson to make his debut in the major leagues. Robinson broke the major league color barrier on April 15, 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson faced immense prejudice from the nation, the major league baseball association as well as from his teammates. Robinson was under a great deal of pressure as well. He was carrying the hopes of an entire race upon his shoulders. Robinson received hate mail and death threats during his first season with the Dodgers. Crowds and fellow ball players taunted him across the country. Soon enough Robinson started to tear up the league with his hitting and flawless fielding. Robinson went on to win the Rookie of the Year award and in his ten seasons with the Dodgers helped the team win six pennants and their first World Series. He was also an all-star from 1949-1954. He won the National Leagues Most Valuable Player Award in 1949. He was elected to the hall of fame in 1962.

The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time. - Jackie Robinson

Impact upon society- Jackie Robinson’s impact upon society can only be characterized as truly groundbreaking. When Jackie Robinson broke baseballs long standing color barrier in 1947 he forever changed the course of sports history in American society. Robinson opened the door to professional baseball to black Americans. He was a pioneer in his own right, who forever changed the opinions of countless American baseball fans. Robinson lived in a time when racial segregation and prejudices were common place in American society. The courage he showed by accepting the Brooklyn Dodgers offer to play baseball in the major leagues epitomizes his personality. He was a man determined to succeed in a hostile environment, as well as a man determined to prove to the nation that blacks could play baseball just as well as whites. The league and its players persecuted Robinson, as well as fans, but his determination and strong will were no match for the ignorance of prejudice. Robinson can be credited with opening the door to professional black athletes in all sports in American society. He was a ground breaking athlete who changed the lives of many baseball fans as well as players. His popularity expanded the fan base of professional baseball, and his success on the field was worthy of the praise of many a white fan.

I don't think that I or any other Negro, as an 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 that we're not looking for anything else.- Jackie Robinson

Did Jackie Robinson Change History?- You better believe he did. Jackie Robinson changed the history of professional athletics in America forever. He opened the door to professional black athletes in 1947 when he became the first black man to play in a major league baseball game in the 20^th century. He increased the fan base for professional baseball by including black fans. He also changed the minds of many a skeptical prejudice white fan with is superior hitting and flawless fielding on the field. He not only proved that the black athlete had a place in professional sports in America, he proved that the black athlete could excel in professional sports as well. Robinson became "a hero not only to blacks and all baseball fans, but to every American who valued justice. The door was open." (Rappoport & Wilner, p. 22)

I believe in the goodness of a free society. And I believe that society can remain good only as long as we are willing to fight for it--and to fight against whatever imperfections may exist. - Jackie Robinson

For more information on the life and times of Jackie Robinson you can visit the following web sites.

http://www.utexas.edu/students/jackie/