Jackie

1
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson The Man Who Broke
the Color Barrier
2
Baseballs color barrier, which stood unbroken
until Jackie Robinson crossed the diamond lines
on a fateful day in 1947, was one of Americas
most visible symbols of segregation.
3
While it was uncommon to hear of integrated teams
in college or on the club level, the fact that
the Major Leagues would not allow in presented a
major obstacle to Africa-American success and a
tremendous blot on the pride and equality of a
people.
4
An early 20th Century picture of an amateur,
all-Negro baseball club.
5

• Harvard University had an integrated baseball
  team as early as 1904, a rarity in America.

6

• Jackie Robinson as a 2nd Lt. during WWII and
  faced discrimination during his military service.

7

• Robinson served in the military, receiving Army
  training during the second World War.

• Robinson was court-martialed and was threatened
  with a dishonorable discharge for refusing to
  accept a seat at the back of a military bus.

8

• Before joining the Major Leagues, Robinson played
  on the Negro Leagues Kansas City Monarchs.
• In one famous incident, Robinson refused to let
  his teammates by fuel for their bus if the
  station attendant did not let the Negro players
  use the restroom.

9
An original painting of Jackie Robinson
concerning his time playing for the Brooklyn
Dodgers Minor League affiliate, the Montreal
Expos.
10
Life for the Negro League athletes, with
segregated restrooms,water fountains, and movie
theatres, was difficult beyond words.
The Negro Leagues, a twisted version of the
separate but equal idea were not equal in
anyones mind. The Negro Leagues often, as in
the case of this flyer, had to resort to
clownishness in order to attract customers.
11
All though Robinson faced initial opposition from
to his integration experiment, they quickly grew
to love and support Robinson. Robinson all out
play and his team attitude helped certainly, but
so did the often blatantly racist and ignorant
views and malicious actions expressed by some of
the Dodgers opponents.
12
Jackie shakes hands with teammate George Shuba
after his first ever Major League Home run.
13

• A color photo of the Brooklyn Dodgers standing
  around a batting cage when Jackie was a veteran.
  Note the absence of diversity even after Robinson
  integrated the Dodgers.
• It would be a few years before players like Roy
  Campanella become common in the Bigs.

14
The handshake of teammates on the Brooklyn
Dodgers.

• Pee Wee Reese, long held as a racist, was
  instrumental in support of Robinson when Jackie
  first joined the Dodgers.
• Robinson himself was crucial in paving the way
  for later black athletes. Willie Mays once said,
  I dont make history, I chase fly balls., a
  reference to Jackies impact on the game and
  minorities role in baseball.

15
Jackie joined the Majors in 1947 and won the
Rookie of the Year, and later won the MVP in 1949.
16
Jackie Robinson appeared on the cover of Sports
Illustrated in May 1997 as Major League Baseball
recognized his accomplishments in integrating
baseball by retiring his number on all 30 Major
League teams.
17
Jackie Robinson in Hollywood filming The Jackie
Robinson Story. Although some considered
Robinsons motives to be purely monetary,
Robinsons story spread his efforts for equality
to the film masses.
18
A Screenshot from The Jackie Robinson Story,
spread the difficulties Robinson encountered in
Baseball, albeit in a changed tone.
19

• One of the most famous pictures of Jackie
  Robinson- his breathtaking steal of home plate.
• Robinson, its interesting to note, brought a
  running style back to baseball not seen since the
  days of Ty Cobb, an outspoken racist.

20
Jackie playing ball with his son, Jackie Jr.
during his twilight years in Brooklyn.
21
Some of Robinsons most important work for
American Civil Rights came after his playing
days. Though often overlooked, Robinson work
establishing the Freedom Bank and marching with
Martin Luther King, as well as his service to the
NAACP were valuable contributions to America that
are never recognized to the extent they deserve.
22
Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachael at
Robinsons ground breaking induction into the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
23
After his playing days were over, Jackie immersed
himself in the American Civil Rights Movement,
working for the NAACP and advising the Rev.
Martin Luther King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
24
An older Jackie Robinson with his son Jackie Jr.
taking part in the March on Washington with Rev.
Martin Luther King. The Civil Rights Movement
occupied almost all of Robinsons post-baseball
years.
25
In addition to his work with Martin Luther King,
Jackie Robinson helped organize the Freedom
National Bank, which extended loans to minority
business and home owners.
26
A copy of a Jackie Robinson baseball card.
27
Robinson is regarded by baseball historians as
one of the most complete players to ever man
second base in the big leagues.
28
Robinsons career stats place him in elite
company, alongside Joe Morgan as the greatest
second baseman to ever play the game.
29

• Bibliography

• Barber, Red. 1947 When All Hell Broke Loose in
  Baseball. Garden City, NY Doubleday Co., 1982.
• Duckett, Alfred. Jackie Robinson I Never Had It
  Made. NewYork, NY G. P. Putnams Sons Co.,
  1972.
• Allen, Maury. Jackie Robinson A Life
  Remembered. New York, New York Franklin Watts
  Co., 1987.
• http//www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honor
  ees/hofer_bios/robinson_jackie.htm
• http//www.utexas.edu/students/jackie/robinson/ers
  kine.html
• http//www.nara.gov/education/teaching/robinson/ro
  bmain.html