Jackie Robinson: The Civil Rights Baseball Star

Jackie Robinson

Civil Rights Baseball Star

Activist, athlete, and Leader are three words, people often think of, in connection with Jackie Robinson. Many people know Jackie Robinson as a famous baseball player, but he was so much more. Jackie Robinson changed the world as the first black professional baseball player in times of segregation and racism in the world. He showed that African Americans could do anything just as good as a white person. He left a legacy as the Civil Rights Baseball Star. There were many problems in the world during the life of Jackie Robinson. There were many from the MLB to America. Many people were against Jackie playing professional baseball, so they made death threats towards him ( CD ). Some of his

He had many career accomplishments and achievement. In his career Robinson was able to reach the World Series 5 times helping the Dodgers win one against the Yankees (Robinsons 38). After a great statistical career, he was inducted into the professional baseball hall of fame in 1962. Being in the Hall of Fame was a big accomplishment for Jackie, but the even bigger one when he was accepted as the first African American or black to be inducted ( Lincoln Library 82). Red Patterson had said about Jackie, “ He was competitive in every way, as a crusader for blacks and as a ballplayer.” ( Lincoln Library 82 ). By putting up impressive stats in his first year in the MLB he showed that African Americans could do what a white man could do or even better. He had such an impressive career that he had the Rookie of the Year award named the Jackie Robinson Award ( Baseball - Almanac ). Before entering the big stage of baseball Robinson played on the Minor League affiliate team for the Dodgers before signing. In his 10 year career he compiled .311 average in hitting and 197 stolen bases ( Pietrusza 42 ). Later after being retired he was honored with the Presidential Medal of

In his Legacy people have thought about Jackie in many ways but for good. In Robinson’s first practice exhibition several thousand blacks filled the stands with excitement ( Effrat- Online ). Not only did regular people see what Jackie Robinson did, but also powerful people like the U.S. President. Bill Clinton said at the anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier, “ It’s hard to believe that it was fifty years ago that a twenty - eight year old rookie changed the face of baseball and the face of America forever.”( Robinson 159- 160 ). The Lincoln Library quoted about Robinson, “ What Jackie Robinson achieved on the baseball diamond may fade with the passage of time, but what he achieved as a man will long be remembered.” ( Lincoln Library 88). In 1949, Jackie Robinson won the National League Most Valuable Player Award ( Pietrusza 18 ). He was the first black to do so. Also, back in 1947, Robinson became the first black man to Rookie of the Year. One of the biggest magazines at the time Sporting News honored Jackie Robinson with Rookie of the Year. Robinson was a monster on the field well known for being a powerful hitter and man who get away with anything on the base paths. Soon after the MLB inducted Robinson into the Hall of Fame Canada inducted him into their Hall of Fame( Baseball Almanac). In 2013 his life and career was made into a