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Jackie Robinson made history on April 15, 1947.
That day he became the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Many white fans and players wanted baseball to stay all white. But Robinson made a promise to Brooklyn Dodgers’ president Branch Rickey: he wouldn’t respond to any attacks. Sadly, there were many attacks.
Some players on his own team signed a petition to protest his hiring. Fans yelled insults at him. Pitchers threw balls at his head. Some players aimed their spikes at him when they slid into a base. People sent threatening letters. But Jackie Robinson kept his promise. He may have been hurt and angry, but he didn’t fight back. Instead, he just hit the ball as hard and as far as he could, and he kept stealing bases.
By keeping his promise, Jackie Robinson showed the world that he was more than a great player. He showed that he was a great man.
▲ Jackie Robinson was a good hitter, runner, and fielder. He was also a great base-stealer. It’s nearly impossible to steal home base, but he did it—19 times! After his first season in the majors, Robinson was named Rookie of the Year. In 1949, he was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player. Robinson played Major League Baseball for ten years. During that time, he played in six All-Star games.
◀ Branch Rickey did things differently. He created the first minor league farm system for teaching young players. He also set up the first full-time spring-training park. Rickey got players to use batting cages and pitching machines. He also wanted them to use batting helmets. But Rickey’s most important contribution to baseball was signing Jackie Robinson.
Jackie Robinson changed Major League Baseball. Still, much of America was segregated. That means blacks and whites were kept apart. African Americans, including Robinson, served in a segregated army during World War II. But things were changing. In 1948, President Harry Truman signed an order to end segregation in the armed forces. ▶
The Dodgers played in Ebbets Field. It opened in 1913, and the last game played there was in 1957. After that, the team moved to Los Angeles. In 1960, the stadium was torn down and replaced by apartment buildings. ▼
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