JACKIE ROBINSON

Jackie Robinson was the first Black player to break baseball’s color barrier and a pioneer int he modern Civil Rights movement. An outstanding athlete, Robinson starred in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. When the United States entered World War II in 1941, he attended Officers’ Training School in Kansas and earned the commission of a second lieutenant. Three years later, Robinson was threatened with a court martial for refusing to sit in the back of an army bus. Honorably discharged, he joined the Kansas City Monarchs of theNegro Leagues as a shortstop for a salary of $100 per week.

Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, not only recognized Robinson’s outstanding athletic ability, but also his character strengths: a competitive fire that burned white-hot, the courage to face adversity, and the determination to succeed. These special qualities, along with Robinson’s college and military experience, convinced Rickey to select him for the experiment in integration rather than more talented Negro Leaguers such as Josh Gibson or Satchel Paige.

In 1947, when Robinson broke the color barrier, opposing players spiked him on the basepaths and showered him with racial obscenities, while fans in other cities mailed him death threats. Through it all, Robinson persevered, channeling his anger into his on-field performance. He brought the Negro Leagues’ electrifying style of play to the majors and he quickly became baseball’s top drawing card. In the process, he hit .297 and led the league in stolen bases with 29, earning the Rookie of the Year award.

With Robinson as the catalyst, the Dodgers won six pennants and a world championship during his 10 seasons in Brooklyn. He was named National League MVP in 1949, leading the league in hitting (.342) and steals (37), while knocking in 124 runs. After he retired in 1957, Robinson became an active leader int he Civil Rights movement, promoting Black-owned businesses and speaking out publicly against social injustices. His No. 42 was retired by every major league baseball club in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier.

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Images courtesy of Dick Perez