Jackie Robinson once said, “I never cared about acceptance, as much as I care about respect” (“Jackie Robinson”3). Former MLB player Jackie Robinson made an impact on the MLB by opening the door for other black players to play alongside him. He was a great baseball player and also a great person. Jackie Robinson was one of the greatest baseball players ever to have played the sport.
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five children in a rather poor family, Jackie was also the most talented and athletic. Shortly after Jackie was born, his mother moved him and his family to Pasadena, California, in hope of a better life (O’Hern 1). While in High School, Jackie excelled at almost every sport. Many …show more content…
Even though Jackie was one of the league's top prospects, he had no intention of making a baseball career. He hated the constant traveling and the low pay that he was given (“Jackie Robinson” 2). With the effort of the Brooklyn Dodgers president, Branch Rickey, on October 23, 1945, Jackie signed a contract with Mr. Rickey to play for one of the Dodger’s farm teams in the international league, the Montreal Royals (“Jackie Robinson” 2). Spring training for Jackie was rough because of the segregation laws. Some of the games Robinson was scheduled to play in were canceled due to his presence (“Jackie Robinson” 3). That season, he proved his worth to the team by leading them to the championship in the Little World Series (“Jackie Robinson” 3). Robinson’s performance proved that he was ready for the big leagues, but some of the players thought otherwise. A petition was started to not let Jackie play for the Dodgers, but hardly anyone signed. Rickey brought him up to the Dodgers making him promise not to get frustrated about the racial taunts he was expecting (“Jackie Robinson” 3). After arriving in the pro’s, he promoted a few racially motivated actions, for example, the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to go on strike because of his arrival but stopped when the National League president threatened …show more content…
Spectators soon began to fill up stadiums just to see Jackie play. Soon, he led the league in stolen bases and his first year in the pros, won Rookie of the Year (“Jackie Robinson”3). By the end of that season, he could not hold his tongue any longer. He would often get into shouting matches with the umpires and other opposing players. All though Rickey would get mad, he’d usually let it slide. 1949 Jackie had reached a peak performance level and still outplayed most of the players in the league. By now, Robinson was world famous. He had a six season streak of batting over .300. He was also known then for his many daring home steals. His success in the big leagues opened the doorway for many more great black players (“Jackie Robinson”3). In 1951, Jackie’s attitude changed. Dodgers president Branch Rickey was fired and replaced with Walter O’Malley who was less tolerant of his behavior. By late 1951 Robinson’s glory years were winding down and in December of 1956, because of a bad relationship with him, O’Malley sold Jackie to the San Francisco Giants. In the January 1957 issue of Look Magazine, Jackie announced his retirement stating that his body has passed his prime and he can no longer perform. He finished his major league career with an overall average of .311 and a record nineteen steals of home (“Jackie Robinson”3). After retirement, Jackie became a successful businessman and an active supporter of political
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five children in a rather poor family, Jackie was also the most talented and athletic. Shortly after Jackie was born, his mother moved him and his family to Pasadena, California, in hope of a better life (O’Hern 1). While in High School, Jackie excelled at almost every sport. Many …show more content…
Even though Jackie was one of the league's top prospects, he had no intention of making a baseball career. He hated the constant traveling and the low pay that he was given (“Jackie Robinson” 2). With the effort of the Brooklyn Dodgers president, Branch Rickey, on October 23, 1945, Jackie signed a contract with Mr. Rickey to play for one of the Dodger’s farm teams in the international league, the Montreal Royals (“Jackie Robinson” 2). Spring training for Jackie was rough because of the segregation laws. Some of the games Robinson was scheduled to play in were canceled due to his presence (“Jackie Robinson” 3). That season, he proved his worth to the team by leading them to the championship in the Little World Series (“Jackie Robinson” 3). Robinson’s performance proved that he was ready for the big leagues, but some of the players thought otherwise. A petition was started to not let Jackie play for the Dodgers, but hardly anyone signed. Rickey brought him up to the Dodgers making him promise not to get frustrated about the racial taunts he was expecting (“Jackie Robinson” 3). After arriving in the pro’s, he promoted a few racially motivated actions, for example, the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to go on strike because of his arrival but stopped when the National League president threatened …show more content…
Spectators soon began to fill up stadiums just to see Jackie play. Soon, he led the league in stolen bases and his first year in the pros, won Rookie of the Year (“Jackie Robinson”3). By the end of that season, he could not hold his tongue any longer. He would often get into shouting matches with the umpires and other opposing players. All though Rickey would get mad, he’d usually let it slide. 1949 Jackie had reached a peak performance level and still outplayed most of the players in the league. By now, Robinson was world famous. He had a six season streak of batting over .300. He was also known then for his many daring home steals. His success in the big leagues opened the doorway for many more great black players (“Jackie Robinson”3). In 1951, Jackie’s attitude changed. Dodgers president Branch Rickey was fired and replaced with Walter O’Malley who was less tolerant of his behavior. By late 1951 Robinson’s glory years were winding down and in December of 1956, because of a bad relationship with him, O’Malley sold Jackie to the San Francisco Giants. In the January 1957 issue of Look Magazine, Jackie announced his retirement stating that his body has passed his prime and he can no longer perform. He finished his major league career with an overall average of .311 and a record nineteen steals of home (“Jackie Robinson”3). After retirement, Jackie became a successful businessman and an active supporter of political