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Sports – Intermediate Level
The First African-American MLB Player
In the early 20th century, sports in America were segregated by people’s skin color. For example, black
and white baseball players did not play with or against each other. They had their own separate
leagues and organizations. White fans did not attend black baseball games and black fans did not go to
white baseball games. There were also no black players allowed on professional baseball teams in
America’s biggest professional baseball organization, the MLB.
In 1947, however, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American professional baseball player. The
manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, a Major League baseball team, hired Robinson to become a
member of the team. His decision was very controversial at the time. Some of the white players on the
team said they would not play with Robinson. The Dodgers’ manager replied that he would trade or
fire anyone on the team who refused to play.
Some players on other teams were also angry about playing against an African-American player. A few
newspaper reporters wrote that the St. Louis Cardinals would refuse to play against the Dodgers.
However, they did play against the Dodgers on May 6, 1947. The Cardinals lost the game 7-6. Players
on other teams taunted Robinson and made racist comments towards him. However, this abuse only
ended up uniting the Dodgers team. Robinsons’ fellow players rallied behind him in support. Even
players who did not initially support Robinson at the beginning of the season were friendly towards
him by the end of it.
Robinson was also a terrific baseball player and showed that black and white players could play with
each other. Over the years, black players were slowly integrated into Major League Baseball. By 1960,
black players had won the Rookie of the Year award nine times. Hispanic players were also gradually
accepted into American professional baseball. When Robinson retired from baseball in 1957, players
of different colors were a more common sight on the baseball diamond.
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Dreamreader.net
Sports – Intermediate Level
1. According to the article, in the early 20th century, how were sports in America segregated?
a) by sex
b) by age
c) by color
d) by ability
2. The word “separate” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to:
a) remote
b) standard
c) opposing
d) independent
3. What is the main topic of paragraph 2?
a) how Jackie Robinson became the first African- American manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
b) why Jackie Robinson became the first African- American manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
c) how Jackie Robinson became the first African- American professional baseball player
d) why Jackie Robinson became the first African- American professional baseball player
4. In paragraph 2, “His” refers to:
a) a player who refused to play
b) a white player on the team
c) the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
d) the first African- American professional baseball player
5. The word “hired” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
a) signed
b) allowed
c) referred
d) occupied
6. According to the article, how did the manager react to the news that some white players on the team would
not play with Robinson?
a) he said he would remove Robinson from the team
b) he said he would remove anyone on the team who refused to play
c) he warned them that their actions were very controversial
d) he hired more African- American professional baseball players
7. In paragraph 3, “they” refers to:
a) the Brooklyn Dodgers
b) the St. Louis Cardinals
c) a few newspaper reporters
d) Robinsons’ fellow players
8. According to the article, when did Robinson stop playing professional baseball?
a) in 1947
b) in 1957
c) in 1960
d) in 1975
9. The word “common” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to:
a) decent
b) accepted
c) separate
d) infrequent
Answers: 1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (b)
This text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You may copy, share or adapt this
material so long as it is not used for commercial purposes.