Table of ContentsIntroductionBiography and AchievementsConclusionWorks CitedIntroduction“A life is only important in the impact it has on other lives” (Jackie Robinson). In the United States in the 1940s, segregation was the way of life. You probably know Jackie Robinson as number 42; the first black man to play major league baseball. In 1947, he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson's life has had many twists and turns. He was a very strong man who touched countless people and continues to do so today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayBiography and AchievementsJack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie is named after President Theodore Roosevelt. About a year after his birth, he moved to Pasadena, California with his mother. In California, he began to discover how horrible the discrimination and racism was. Jackie watched his brothers play sports while he was growing up. He attended John Muir High School and excelled in four sports. In high school and college, he played basketball, baseball, football, and track and field. Her mother was a worker and they didn't have much money, but Jackie found her own way of life. Jackie's parents are Mallie and Jerry Robinson. He was born into a family of sharecroppers. Jackie's father left when he was about a year old and never saw him again. His grandparents were slaves. He was the youngest of 5 children. He had three older brothers Mack, Edgar and Frank and one sister, Willa Mae. Jackie met Rachel Isum, a nursing student at UCLA. He married Rachel on February 10, 1946. They had three children; Jack Robinson Jr., Sharon and David. Jack Jr. died in a car accident when he was 24 years old. His daughter Sharon is an author and consultant for Major League Baseball and his son David is a coffee farmer in Tanzania. Jackie played four sports at UCLA, basketball, baseball, football and track. He was the first person to earn varsity letters in four sports at UCLA. He went to Honolulu, Hawaii to play semi-pro football for the Bears. About halfway through the season, he was drafted into the army for World War II. Jackie served as a second lieutenant in the Army, but he never saw combat. At that time, African Americans were not allowed to serve alongside whites. At a training camp at Fort Hood, Texas, he refused to ride to the back of the segregated military bus and was nearly kicked out of the army. In 1944, Jackie left the Army with an honorable discharge. Jackie begins playing baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs. While playing for the Monarchs, he had a .387 batting average and was an outstanding shortstop. The general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers branch, Rickey, wanted to join Major League Baseball. He wanted to win the pennant. Branch Rickey knew the racism and comments would be mean, so he wanted to find someone strong enough to face it and not retaliate. Branch approached Jackie about playing for the Dodgers, and during their first conversation, Jackie said, "Mr. Rickey, are you looking for a nigger who's afraid to fight back?" Branch replied, "Robinson, I'm looking for a baseball player with enough courage not to fight back." » https://www.ducksters.com/sports/jackie_robinson.php.Jackie began playing for the Dodgers' farm team, the Montreal Royals. It didn't take long for the racism to start, teams weren't showing upAt matches, he was yelled at, threatened and had objects thrown at him. He was able to work hard and play hard. While playing for the Royals, he had a batting average of .349. He won the league's MVP award. In 1947, Jackie was called up to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played his first major league season as a first baseman. On April 15, 1947, Jackie became the first African American to play Major League Baseball, at the age of 28. There were more and more black fans at every game. The Dodgers players objected to Jackie playing on the team. They said they preferred to sit still. “This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right to play as another” (Ford Rick). Jackie had 175 hits, scoring a total of 125 runs, including 12 home runs, 48 ​​RBIs and 28 stolen bases. “This guy didn’t just come to play. He came to beat you. That year, the Dodgers won the pennant and Jackie received Major League Baseball's Rookie of the Year award. “I don’t care if you like me or don’t like me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” (Jackie Robinson). In the 1940s, the United States was segregated. It is now normal to have mixed teams. However, in the 1940s, this was not a reality. Black people were forbidden from playing baseball with white people. Brooklyn was a very segregated city, with the African American population only 4 percent. Many people opposed Jackie signing to play for the Dodgers and the integration of baseball. The harassment and abuse that Jackie had to deal with without showing anger would get someone in big trouble today. His strength, courage and black supporters got him through, but having his wife Rachel by his side was the most important thing. In Jackie's baseball career, he had a batting average of .311. He totaled 137 home runs and 197 stolen bases. He was an excellent stealer of goals and goals. His best position was second base. He won the All-Star award 6 times. Jackie retired from baseball on January 5, 1957. Jackie retired because the Dodgers traded him for a pitcher and $30,000 after winning their sixth National League pennant. He didn't agree to the trade to the Dodgers' biggest rival, the New York Giants, so he retired. Jackie sent a letter to Horace Stoneham, the owner of the Giants, asking him to retire. National League President Warren Giles approved Jackie's retirement request and added her name to the list of voluntary retirees. His letter remains in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Jackie played for the Dodgers for 10 years. “Jackie Robinson may be the most important baseball player of all time, ranking with Babe Ruth in terms of his impact on the national pastime.” When Jackie first stepped on the field playing Major League Baseball, he broke the color barrier and ended more than sixty years of segregation in baseball. “He became a national hero to black and white Americans because of his talent, courage and restraint.” Jackie opened up the opportunity for more African Americans to play major league baseball. He was able to bring people together through baseball, as many were struggling with the war. He joined baseball, but that's not all. When he refused to sit in the back of the military bus, he helped integrate him into the army. After Jackie retired from baseball, he became active in the industry and./9061631/.