The grandson of a slave, Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia; he was the youngest of five children. Jackie grew up very poor, but little did he know that his athletic ability would open the doors for his future. After his father deserted the family when Jackie was six months old, his mother, Mallie Robinson, moved the family to California in search of work. California also subjected blacks to segregation at that time, but to less of a degree than in the Deep South. The young Jackie defused his anger over this prejudice by immersing himself in sports. He displayed extraordinary athletic skills in high school, excelling at football, basketball, baseball, and track. After helping Pasadena Junior College …show more content…
Pitchers often threw the ball directly at Robinson, base runners tried to spike him, and he was subjected to a steady stream of racial insults. He received hate mail, death threats, and even warnings that his baby boy would be kidnapped. Through it all, Robinson held his tongue in deference to Rickey's wishes. Robinson let his playing do the talking, and before long he was known as one of the most exciting players in baseball. Soon fans both black and white were filling ballparks to see him in action, and the Dodgers set new attendance records. Most of his fellow teammates fully supported him as they became convinced of Robinson's value to the club. The Dodgers won the pennant in 1947 and Jackie, at the age of twenty eight, was named Rookie of the Year, an award that would be named after him in 1987. In 1949, Robinson moved to second base and won the National League's Most Valuable Player award while leading the Dodgers to the National League title. He led the league in stolen bases with thirty seven and finished on top with a .342 batting average. He also played in the first All-Star game alongside Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. By this time Robinson was famous throughout the world. He had a string of six consecutive seasons batting over .300 and became renowned for his daring steals of home. In 1951, he again led the league with a .338 batting average. In the last game of the season the Dodgers were tied against
Jackie Robinson is mostly remembered for breaking the color barrier in baseball. By stepping into the predominantly white sport, he changed the face of not only baseball, but also the United States as a whole. He did all of this during a time of segregated buses, schools, hotels, drinking fountains, and when restaurants were separated. After joining the league in 1947, he wasn't accepted. He faced death threats, vulgar insults, and fans
Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo. The year Jackie was born was 1919 to a family of farmers. His Mother name is Mallie Robinson. She raised Jackie and four other of her children. They were the only black family around and people gave them a hard time about living around them since they were the only black family on the block. Jackie was the very first black baseball player ever to join the white man’s league.
As Rickey told Jackie what he was looking for in a black ballplayer that was strong enough not to fight back against the abuse and discrimination. Jackie signed the contract on October 23, 1945, and was sent to the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league team, the Montreal Royals.(Rampersad, 135). When Robinson and the Royals arrived to Florida for spring training, Jackie got a taste of racism. Jackie was not allowed to sleep at the hotel where his fellow teammates were because of the racial segregating, Jim Crow laws.(Harnischfeger, Corey). Robinson was feeling the pressure of racial discrimination but with the help of Rachel he continued to pursue to the MLB. On April 18th, 1946, Robinson made his long awaited minor league debut. He ended up complying 4 hit out of 5 at bats with one homerun. At the end of the season, Jackie won the most valuable player award. (Rampersad, 136-155). Before the start of the 1947 season, Robinson was called up to the MLB’s Brooklyn Dodgers. Then On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in front of 26 thousand plus people, with many of the attendees being African Americans. Jackie Robinson being called up to the MLB brought some racial tension. Jackie was the subject of death threats from fans and even players, including some teammates, not wanting to play on the same field as him.(Tygiel, 125). When some of Jackie’s
Robinson later went to the University of California after graduating PJC. He was the school 's first athlete to win Varsity Letters in 4 sports, Baseball, Football, Basketball and Track. He also played as one of the four Negro players in the 1939 Bruins Football team, But as it was a time when there were few black players, This made it one of the league 's most integrated team.To add on to that, Robinson also was part of the track team and he ended up winning the NCAA
Jackie Robinson had a hard life growing up. He was born in Cairo Georgia, on January 31, 1919. His full name is Jackie Roosevelt Robinson. His parents chose the middle name Roosevelt because Teddy Roosevelt spoke out against racism. Jackie Robinson was born on a plantation where his parents were shopkeepers. Jackie Robinson was the youngest of 5 children. At birth, his siblings were Edgar age 10, Frank age 9, Mark age 5, Willa Mae 3. His mom was Mallie Robinson and his dad's name was Jerry Robinson. However Jackie Robinson's father left his mother and ran off with the neighbor's wife. Jackie Robinson wasn't even one when he left. When Frank got older he won a gold medal in track in the olympics. The plantation owner kicked them out of the plantation, which caused them to move to California. Jackie Robinson played and loved all sports. He was the best at football. He even was the starting quarterback. Because he faced so much segregation, he created the Pepper Street Gang. The Pepper Street Gang was a group of Jackie's friends who excluded all white
To begin, on January 30th, 1919 Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia. His parents were Mallie Robinson and Jerry Robinson. He was the youngest of 5 children. His siblings were Edgar, Frank, Mack, and Willa Mae. After Jackie was born His father left home. Mallie Robinson and the kids had to move to California when Jackie was young. It took over a week on the train ride to California. Jackie’s family was the only black family on their tree lined block in Pasadena. Jackie liked to watch his brother Mack play baseball in the sandlot. One day there wasn’t enough players on a team,
Mallie and Jerry Robinson, Jackie’s parents, gave life to Jackie Robinson on January 31, 1919. He was born in Cairo, Georgia, and was raised in Pasadena, California. Jackie was on of the best athletes in his state. Jackie was not just an amazing baseball player but he was also good
Jackie Robinson comes from a humble beginning. Jackie was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. When he was six months old, his father left and his mother moved the family to California. With the help of a niece, his mother bought a house in a white neighborhood in Pasadena. As if raising a family as a single parent isn't enough she had to stand up every day to racism and horrible treatment since she lived in a white community. Jackie was very proud of his mother, she is where Jackie learned to stand up for himself and not be pushed around. As Robinson grew up he discovered he was a natural athlete. Although he still struggled, putting up with racism, he learned that through sports he could make friends with white kids. In high school Jackie participated in nearly all the sports available: Football, basketball, track, and most importantly baseball.
Soon Robinson was flourishing, he won the International League batting title with a .349 average. He later made 66 runs to help his team win the "pennant." He was also named League;s Most Valuble Player (MVP). Soon Robinson was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie suprised the Major League on April 15, 1947, when he was seen starting on first base against the Boston Braves. He wore the memorable number "42." Being the only black player in a white baseball world proved tough for Robinson. His teammates passed a petition to have him removed from the roster. Rickey, however, told the players that if they didn't adjust their thinking, he would be glad to let them go. In addition, Robinson and his family faced death threats. Nobody liked robinson and wanted him out the league, during games they would throw trash, watermelon, and other materials at him. He began to use his anger from the fans and his doubters into his game playing. He won Rookie of the Year, and led the Dodgers to the National League Pennant. Throughout the rest of his carreer Jackie Robinson became an icon. He kept improving his game until finally he earned his respect. The first African-American to play Major League baseball has changes the aspect of blacks
Jackie Robinson was soon to be scouted by a white man, his name was Branch Rickey. He was the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers and he was in the white leagues. Soon later, Jackie Robinson first played for the Montreal Monarchs an all-white team then moved and became a new player to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was the first black player to compete in the major leagues and first black player to be on the team too. For Jackie being the first African American to play in this major leagues, “Robinson was the target of racial epithets and flying cleats, of hate letters and death threats, of pitchers throwing at his head and legs, and catchers spitting on his shoes.” Jackie Robinson would get racial slurs from the crowd and from other teams. Jackie and his family would receive threats. He though was scared for himself and his family, but he knew that this was not an option to quit. Jackie did not give up, he will fight back with his talents in baseball. Throughout all his games, Jackie Robinson had the guts to play baseball through any adversity. He was able to overcome his fears and the hatred he had to hold back from the segregation and discrimination. The talent he had “Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the major leagues in 1947, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947, National League MVP in 1949 and a World Series champ in 1955.” Through the course of the years, Jackie Robinson was able to achieve a lot. He knew just by playing his heart out there and giving his all would lead him to goals not a lot of baseball players can get to. Through any circumstance, Jackie was able to show the ones that doubted, made fun of him, and threatened him that he has never given up and he was able to do it and achieve it. From when Branch Rickey picked up Jackie Robinson, Jackie being the first and only black baseball player at this time, it is a huge
Born Jack Roosevelt Robinson on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children to Mallie and Jerry Robinson. Growing up he excelled in many sports such as baseball, basketball, track. tennis and football at John Muir High school or Muir Tech. After high school, he attended Pasadena Junior College. There he continued to play football, basketball, track, and baseball. After graduating from PJC he enrolled at UCLA in 1939 where he continued to play the same sports. He was later drafted into the
Jackie’s early life before baseball had some rough spots. He was the youngest of five children in his family and Jackie was raised in poverty by his single mother. Jackie was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie when to John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College, which is where he was a great athlete. Jackie played lots of sports in his day, he played track, football, basketball, baseball which were pretty
People throughout history, who are the first to do, make, or renovate existing ideas have been known as pioneers. Two well known pioneers in history are Jackie Robinson and Thomas Cole. Jackie Robinson diversified the game of baseball, by being the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Robinson was a big inspiration to many people around the country,and nation. Thomas Cole pushed the limits by creating landscape paintings unlike any seen before, and creating the Hudson River School, which was a group of landscape painters founded in 1801.
Throughout the 1940’s, our view on American’s baseball has changed substantially. Segregation has been a part of baseball for several decades. Jackie Robinson, an Africa American bore near Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919, started a new revolution for American baseball. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball in the 1940’s (York). Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, Branch Rickey drafted Jackie on April 15, 1947. This was the beginning of Jackie embarking on his new revolution for American baseball (- Baseball, the Color Line, and Jackie Robinson).
Jackie Robinson, known for being a hero, was the first black American to play in a Major League Baseball. Most people remember him as disciplined, persistent and courageous. Jackie persevered through many death threats, all because he had a different skin colour from the other baseball players. In that time period, black people did not have the same rights as white people and both groups were not allowed to play sports together. Despite the challenges, he managed to win the “National League Rookie of the Year” award in his first season. Jackie also helped the Brooklyn Dodgers get to the National League Championship and he won the league MVP award. To celebrate his achievements, the Brooklyn Dodgers retired his number 42 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. A movie was created to portray his life as a being the first black baseball player. Jackie Robinson has won awards and completed many accomplishments throughout his life.