Jackie Robinson's Impact On Baseball

Jackie Robinson not only made impacts on the field that were monumental, but he made impacts off the field that were equally as important. Jackie helped presidents get elected, get kids off the streets and into the most prestigious schools there is, and most importantly he broke the black color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential people to ever live, he did things that people would dream about, he stood up for what he believed.
To begin, Jackie’s biggest accomplishment was breaking the black color barrier on baseball, “ Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier that kept blacks out of the Major League Baseball [MLB]. Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed the 28 year old infielder,

After gaining such a huge name thru baseball Jackie used that to influence the presidency, “Robinson took to the political world too, again using his fame as a lightning rod to draw attention to the issues”(Williams,Juan 5). Jackie understood he had a following so he used that to his advantage. Gradually Jackie’s name got so big that he joined John F. Kennedy 's presidential campaign and then Richard Nixon’s campaign, “... so influential that both Kennedy and Nixon campaigns believed he was their key to success”(Williams,Juan 5). People respected Jackie for what he did on the field so he used that to influence them. Throughout the years Jackie received lots of criticism, but he took that criticism and used it to his advantage, “He answered critics by staying involved, by taking action”(Williams Juan 6). Jackie took grief from everybody from the day he stepped on the field, but he never got down on

Jackie started a foundation called “The Jackie Robinson Foundation” to help members, “JRF is providing more than $1.4 million in scholarship support to 251 Jackie Robinson scholars”(Business Wire 2). Jackie wanted to give kids great educational opportunities so that they can go out and be successful. Jackie really wanted these kids to have the top of the line educations, “...Jackie Robinson scholars attend some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the United states”(Business Wire 2). Jackie gave these kids such good opportunities because he believed that these kids could make a difference in the world when they would grow up. Lastly, Jackie’s foundation support was growing and donations were flowing in, “Spike Lee, Michael Jordan, Virginia Wade, Yogi Berra, Al Roker and Sharon Robinson” (Business Wire 1), are among the celebrities who have donated to this foundation. These huge names show how much respect people had for what Jackie