FIRST BLACK PLAYER IN MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL
In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black major league baseball player in the
history of the game. He left a lasting impact upon the game, system and on the
movement of mixing different colored players into professional sports his impact
is still felt to this day. He suffered terrible racial prejudice and abuse but endured
to create a new legacy. (http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22jackie-robinson-timeline.htm)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
After his first year in the major leagues he won the prestigious rookie of the year
award in the year 1947 showing that he was here to stay and change the way the
game would be played. He posted magnificent numbers that towered over his
competition in order to win his award and was later featured on the cover of time
magazine. (http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22-jackierobinson-timeline.htm)
MVP
In 1949 he earned the most valuable player award for posting the best numbers and
contributing the most to his teams success as he overshadowed his fellow
teammates and other players in the league. He overcame huge adversity from
just two years prior to come out on top of the competition showing that African
Americans could compete to the level of white play. (http://www.historytimelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22-jackie-robinson-timeline.htm)
OVER THE YEARS
Through out his decade in the major leagues Robinson posted considerable numbers
as he endured racial prejudice and harassment from those who feared change
his impacted the game in more ways with his appearance rather than the
numbers he put up. He left a lasting legacy that is remembered to this day and
has led the way for a revolution in professional baseball. (http://www.historytimelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22-jackie-robinson-timeline.htm)
RETIREMENT
He played a decade in major league baseball. He went from being hated and
stereotyped to becoming a beloved player that the fans couldn’t get enough of. In
1956 he was traded to the new york giants however he felt that it was time to
retire as he had enjoyed his time playing in the bigs and felt it was time to pursue
more political goals and help the civil rights movement yet his impact that he left
on baseball echoes throughout the baseball hall of fame and in every fans
hearts. (http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22-jackie-robinsontimeline.htm)
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Following his retirement in 1956 he pursued a new movement as he contributed in
helping support the civil rights movement to increase racial equality and lessen
any prejudiced stereotypes that black people were faced with. He pushed for
equality for future generations. (http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/peopletimelines/22-jackie-robinson-timeline.htm)
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
He became a vocal supporter of Martin Luther King Jr. and the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (http://www.historytimelines.org.uk/people-timelines/22-jackie-robinson-timeline.htm) He
supported king’s speeches as he also envisioned a world in which there was
racial equality and peace and happiness that future generations of youth could
enjoy.
LETTERS
Robinson responded to Presidential civil rights comments amid continuing
controversy over school desegregation efforts in Little Rock, AR, and the South. In
September 1957, Governor Orval Faubus had ordered the Arkansas National
Guard to prevent entry of nine African American students into that city's Central
High School. President Eisenhower reluctantly sent U.S. troops to enforce the
school's integration. From his position as a prominent executive of the Chock Full
o'Nuts Corporation, Robinson continued his advocacy of social justice. (National
Archives and Records Administration, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene,
KS)(http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/jackie_robinson_lette
r/)
HOW THE WORLD IS NOW
“He led America by example. He reminded our people of what was right and he
reminded them of what was wrong. I think it can be safely said today that Jackie
Robinson made the United States a better nation.” – American League President
Gene Budig
“He knew he had to do well. He knew that the future of blacks in baseball depended
on it. The pressure was enormous, overwhelming, and unbearable at times. I
don’t know how he held up. I know I never could have.” – Duke Snider
(http://padresteve.com/2010/01/18/jackie-robinson-and-dr-martin-luther-king-theychanged-america/)
He ultimately helped to change political and social views about blacks and changed
the world for the better.
ULTIMATE MOVEMENT
“Jackie’s feat was a watershed moment in the history of our country. Blacks had
struggled for years against Jim Crow laws, discrimination in voting rights, and
even simple human decencies such as where they could use a rest room, what
hotels they could stay in or what part of the bus that they could sit. In baseball
many white fans were upset that blacks would be coming to see Robinson in
stadiums that they would not have been allowed in before. Players from other
teams heckled Robinson, he received hate mail, people sent made death threats,
and he was spiked and spit on. But Jackie Robinson kept his pledge to Dodgers
owner Branch Rickey not to lash out at his tormentors, as Rickey told him that he
needed a man “with enough guts not to strike back.” In doing so his on field
performance and poise under pressure won him the National League Rookie of
the Year honor in 1947.” (http://padresteve.com/2010/01/18/jackie-robinsonand-dr-martin-luther-king-they-changed-america/) His actions forever changed the
world to make it a much better place with more equality and people see more eye
to now.