History was made on April 15, 1947.
On that day, Jackie Robinson became the first African American in the twentieth century to participate in Major League Baseball. His decision to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers took great courage. At that time, many white players and fans were violently opposed to the integration of baseball. But Robinson had promised Branch Rickey, who was the president of the Dodgers, that he would not respond to attacks, whether they were verbal or physical. There were plenty of attacks.
Some of Robinson’s own teammates signed a petition protesting his hiring. Some spectators shouted insults from the stands. Opposing pitchers threw balls at his head, and players slid into his base with their spikes aimed at him. Threatening letters were delivered to the locker room. But Jackie Robinson kept his promise to Branch Rickey. As hurt and angry as he sometimes felt, he did not fight back—except by hitting the ball as hard and as far as he could and by stealing bases.
In keeping his promise, Jackie Robinson showed he was not only a great baseball player, but a great man.
