¨I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me, all I ask is that you respect me as a human being¨- Jackie Robinson. Jackie robinson was the first african american to play baseball in the modern era of the major leagues. Jackie played infielder and outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 through 1956. Jackie was hated by lots of people when he first got into the league, because there was still a lot of racism going around in the world. When he went up to bat people booed him. When he played coaches, refs, and players antagonized him. Calling him disrespectful names, refs making unfair calls, and even made dirty plays on him. Such as stepping on his ankle when running through bases, intentionally throwing baseballs at him when they …show more content…
31, 1919, in Cairo, Ga., but grew up in Pasadena, Calif. After demonstrating exceptional athletic ability during high school and junior college. He excelled at baseball, football, basketball, and track at UCLA and became the first student at the school to earn four letters in one year. He left UCLA in 1941 and briefly played professional football before being drafted into the United States Army. During his service he refused to sit at the back of a bus and was threatened with a court martial, but the charges were dropped and he was given an honorable discharge in 1945. While playing baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro National League, Robinson caught the eye of a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was brought to the attention of team president Branch Rickey. Major league baseball was not allowed to sign black players at the time. Rickey thought that this was wrong, and he wanted to find someone who could successfully integrate the sport. After meeting Robinson and being impressed with his courage as well as his skill, Rickey signed him on Oct. 23, 1945, to play for the Dodgers AAA team in Montreal. Robinson made his major league debut in April 1947. The chief problem he had to overcome was controlling his fiery temper in the face of continual racial slurs from the crowds and other ball players, including some of his own teammates. Robinson did not break his promise to Rickey to remain silent, though pitchers sometimes