Essay On Jackie Robinson

The person I chose to write about is Jackie Robinson. Not only was Jackie Robinson an important person in California, but he also played an important role in shaping our United States. He broke the color barrier in baseball and became a civil rights leader. He had helped pave the way for people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Growing up; Robinson attended John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College. As mentioned on page 346 by Rolle and Verge in California: A History; 7th edition, “Jackie Robinson began his baseball career at Pasadena Junior College. In 1947 he “broke the sports color line,” becoming the first African American in the major leagues.” Robinson was an amazing athlete, who was inspired by his older brother Matthew.

Two years later the Brooklyn Dodgers President, Branch Rickey had approached him about joining the Dodgers. Branch Rickey was looking for a young talented African American who was capable of turning the other cheek. In this year, Robinson also married his sweetheart from college, Rachel Isum. On April 15, 1947, Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was the first recognized African American to be employed by Major League Baseball. There was criticism especially from Major League Baseball, death threats and even attempts to hurt Robinson from other baseball players, but Robinson was able to keep his cool and not retaliate. Along with criticism, came support. He was welcomed into the league by certain teammates such as Pee Wee Reese and the Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler. With Robinson’s help, the Brooklyn Dodgers won their first National League Pennant. 1947 was also the first baseball season that the Baseball Writers Association of America had selected a Rookie of the Year, and they selected Jackie Robinson. Teammates like Dixie Walker who had criticized Rickey for bring Robinson on to the Dodgers and did not want him on his team later admitted that “(Robinson) is everything Branch Rickey said he was when he came up from Montreal.” Robinson had proved himself well. At the end of his Rookie year he had a hitting average of .297, led

In 1969, Robinson was asked to participate in an Old-Timers game, but he had refused and told them that he was disappointed that the league still had not hired any African American managers or coaches. Again, in 1972, Robinson was asked to throw out the first pitch at the World Series, but once again refused, still disappointed. He did though make an appearance at the second game of the World Series. This game would be his last public appearance. He said, “I’d like to live to see a black manager, I’d like to live to see the day when there is a black man coaching at third base.” That same year the Los Angeles Dodgers retired Jackie Robinson’s uniform number 42 and sadly a few months after he suffered from a heart attack and died in his home on October 24, 1972 in Stamford, Connecticut. He was 53. It was said that after retirement, Robinson was diabetic and the disease had created many complications. Only then did Major League Baseball soon hire their first African American manager, just unfortunately Robinson was no longer here to witness