Jackie Robinson. The first african american to ever play major league baseball. He was an inspiration and as if some might say the best in the game. In my eyes, Jackie Robinson made a big contribution to the game and his race. Actually, Jackie Robinson made his major league debut on April 18, 1946. His first season he played second base and wore #42 for the Dodgers. One of his quotes are: “I’m not concerned with you liking me or disliking me. . . All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” After moving to Pasadena, California when he was young. He watched his older brothers excel in sports. He was the youngest of his five siblings. One day Jackie’s father left and never came back. His mother Millie raised him and his siblings by …show more content…
This battalion was made up of only african american soldiers. Jackie got in trouble one day when he was riding the army bus and refused to go to the back. He nearly got kicked out of the army, although he ended up leaving with an honorable discharge in 1944. After the army he went to play professional baseball at Kansas City. The team he played on was part of the Negro Baseball League. At this time in history, black athletes were not allowed to play major league baseball. Jackie was an amazing player. He was an excellent shortstop and had a batting average of .387. While Jackie was playing for Kansas City he was approached by the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch wanted to sign an African American athlete to help with the pennant. After that day, Jackie went to play in the minor leagues. He constantly dealt with racism. Some people wouldn’t even show up to the game because Jackie was on the team. In 1947, Robinson was called up to the major league to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 15, 1947 he became the African American to ever play major league baseball. Over the next ten years he Robinson was one of the best players in the league. He had a career batting average of .311, 137 homeruns, and 197 stolen bases. Sadly, on October 24, 1972 Robinson died of a heart attack. Robinson was just not a great player but he was also a good