The most significant moment in Major League Baseball history took place on April 15, 1947 when Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut and forever broke the baseball color barrier.
It is a moment that still resonates throughout baseball today, as every player, coach and fan continues to honor the legacy of the man who made advancements possible for many within the game.
Born as Jack Roosevelt Robinson on January 31, 1919, Jackie Robinson's life started from humble beginnings in Cairo, Georgia, where he was the youngest of five children. He grew to be a phenomenal athlete in both high school and college, having played baseball, football, basketball and track. While attending UCLA, he became the university's first student to win varsity letters in all four sports and was one of only a handful of African American athletes on each team. It was also at UCLA that he met his future wife, Rachel.
Before playing baseball professionally, Robinson's first major stance against injustice occurred in 1944 while he was serving in the U.S. Army. Refusing an order by an Army bus driver to move to the back of the bus, he was arrested and court-martialed, but was later cleared of all charges and received an honorable discharge.
In 1945, Robinson began his baseball career in the Negro Leagues after accepting an offer from the Kansas City Monarchs. During his time there, he played with and against many Baseball Hall of Famers such as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Roy Campanella and Buck Leonard, as well as Philadelphia Stars legend Gene Benson. His abilities that year earned him an appearance in the 1945 Negro League All-Star Game. Eventually Robinson had a growing interest in pursuing a possible career in the Major Leagues, while around the same time Brooklyn Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey began to scout the Negro Leagues for potential talent to add to the Dodgers' roster. With the added goal of ending the color barrier that existed in the Majors, Rickey recruited Robinson in what would become known as "The Noble Experiment."
Under the condition that he would choose to not fight back when confronted with racism, Robinson started in the Dodgers' farm system in 1946, where he later excelled despite facing some hostility. This led to his promotion to the Dodgers the following year in 1947, during which he made his Major League debut on April 15 and effectively ended the baseball color barrier.
Begin to construct a timeline and narrative on Jackie Robinson¡¯s life, and the events that led to his positive impact on baseball and on America.
Expand on the timeline and narrative by sharing what you are learning about Jackie Robinson and why he was important.
What was his first major stance against injustice? How was the injustice later made up to him?
Name some of the other sports that he excelled in.
