Breaking Racial Boundaries In Sports Jake Berube & Eric Morin

Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. He mad his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, He mad his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, Many opponents threatened to not play against the Dodgers because of Robinson. His teammates as well wanted to sit out rather than play with Robinson. Many opponents threatened to not play against the Dodgers because of Robinson. His teammates as well wanted to sit out rather than play with Robinson. Manager Leo Durocher inspired to his team that Robinson was one of the better hitters they had. Manager Leo Durocher inspired to his team that Robinson was one of the better hitters they had. He became one of the most notable players in the game and broke the barrier in baseball. He became one of the most notable players in the game and broke the barrier in baseball.

Jesse Owens Jesse Owens was the most successful African American track and field athlete of his time. Jesse Owens was the most successful African American track and field athlete of his time. Owens won three events at the 1933 National Interscholastic Championships when he was in high school. Owens won three events at the 1933 National Interscholastic Championships when he was in high school. When he competed for Ohio State University he tied one and broke three world records. When he competed for Ohio State University he tied one and broke three world records. Owens is most noted for his performance at the 1936 Olympic Games where he took Gold in 100-metre run, 200-metre run, the long jump, and the metre relay. This performance was also a blow to Adolf Hitlers intention to use the Games to demonstrate Aryan superiority. Owens is most noted for his performance at the 1936 Olympic Games where he took Gold in 100-metre run, 200-metre run, the long jump, and the metre relay. This performance was also a blow to Adolf Hitlers intention to use the Games to demonstrate Aryan superiority.

Joe Louis In 1924, Joe Lois Barrow won the In 1924, Joe Lois Barrow won the National Light Heavyweight Amateur National Light Heavyweight Amateur Crown of the Golden Gloves at the Crown of the Golden Gloves at the age of nineteen. age of nineteen. Louis turned pro in 1935 and won a Louis turned pro in 1935 and won a Heavyweight Championship in Heavyweight Championship in Louis served the army in When Louis served the army in When he left the service, he defended his he left the service, he defended his title again until 1949, when he retired, title again until 1949, when he retired, still the champion. still the champion. Louis is known by many to be the greatest Louis is known by many to be the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and after heavyweight boxer of all time, and after defeating Schmelling of Germany, Louis defeating Schmelling of Germany, Louis gave Hitler and Germany a devastating blow. gave Hitler and Germany a devastating blow.

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest boxers to ever participate in the sport. boxers to ever participate in the sport. Ali won his first amateur fight in 1954 Ali won his first amateur fight in 1954 and just two years later won 1956 Golden and just two years later won 1956 Golden Gloves championship for Novices in the Gloves championship for Novices in the lightweight division. lightweight division. In 1960 Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic In 1960 Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski team and defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the gold medal. from Poland to win the gold medal. The 1960s were Muhammad Alis prime The 1960s were Muhammad Alis prime years, not losing a bout and defeating Sonny years, not losing a bout and defeating Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight Champion of the world. Champion of the world. Also in 1964 Ali joined the group the Nation Also in 1964 Ali joined the group the Nation of Islam. Two years later he was drafted to of Islam. Two years later he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War but refused saying fight in the Vietnam War but refused saying he was practicing to be a Muslim Minister and he was practicing to be a Muslim Minister and that it prevented him from fighting in war. that it prevented him from fighting in war.

Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe picked up the game of tennis at Arthur Ashe picked up the game of tennis at the age of 7 one year after his mother died. the age of 7 one year after his mother died. Years later when Ashe excelled in the sport Years later when Ashe excelled in the sport he moved from Lynchburg, Virginia to St. he moved from Lynchburg, Virginia to St. Louis to work with a major tennis coach. Louis to work with a major tennis coach. He won the junior national title in 1960 and He won the junior national title in 1960 and again in 1961 and was then ranked as the again in 1961 and was then ranked as the 5 th best junior player in the nation. UCLA 5 th best junior player in the nation. UCLA gave Ashe a scholarship to play tennis. gave Ashe a scholarship to play tennis. Arthur Ashes hard work finally paid off when Arthur Ashes hard work finally paid off when he won the U.S. Open in 1968 as an amateur. he won the U.S. Open in 1968 as an amateur. In 1970 Ashe won the Australian Open and In 1970 Ashe won the Australian Open and finally in 1975 he gained the most prestigious finally in 1975 he gained the most prestigious tennis title when he defeated Jimmy Connors tennis title when he defeated Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon Final. in the Wimbledon Final.

Texas Western vs. Kentucky For the first time in NCAA Championship For the first time in NCAA Championship history Texas Westerns starting lineup history Texas Westerns starting lineup consisted of 5 African America players. consisted of 5 African America players. The team was coach by Don Haskins The team was coach by Don Haskins who ended up beating Kentucky who ended up beating Kentucky When Haskins was asked about his When Haskins was asked about his decision on the starting lineup he said, decision on the starting lineup he said, "I really didn't think about starting five "I really didn't think about starting five black guys. I just wanted to put my five black guys. I just wanted to put my five best guys on the court. It was a good best guys on the court. It was a good decision on Haskins part as his five top decision on Haskins part as his five top scorers, were his five starters. scorers, were his five starters.

Willie ORee Willie ORee was the first African Willie ORee was the first African American to play in the National American to play in the National Hockey League when he laced up his Hockey League when he laced up his skates for the Boston Bruins in skates for the Boston Bruins in He only played one full season in the He only played one full season in the NHL because of the constant fighting, NHL because of the constant fighting, racial slurs, and never ending cheap racial slurs, and never ending cheap shots. ORee did continue to play shots. ORee did continue to play minor league hockey. minor league hockey. It took 13 more years for the NHL to It took 13 more years for the NHL to see another African American skater see another African American skater enter the league after ORee. enter the league after ORee.

Tiger Woods Tiger Woods first become a star when Tiger Woods first become a star when he played at Sanford, then going on to he played at Sanford, then going on to win a record 3 amateur championship win a record 3 amateur championship before turning pro in before turning pro in His first year as a pro he won the His first year as a pro he won the Masters, golfs biggest tournament. Masters, golfs biggest tournament. In 2001 when Woods again won the In 2001 when Woods again won the Masters, he became the only player to Masters, he became the only player to win all 4 major tournaments in a row; win all 4 major tournaments in a row; the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. Open, and the PGA Championship. Tiger broke a record having 50 wins in Tiger broke a record having 50 wins in major tournaments before turning 30. major tournaments before turning 30. He is currently the #1 ranked golf He is currently the #1 ranked golf player in the world, and has 71 total player in the world, and has 71 total wins, only 11 shy of Sam Snead for first wins, only 11 shy of Sam Snead for first place. place.

Todays Look 79% of NBA rosters are comprised of African Americans 79% of NBA rosters are comprised of African Americans 65% of NFL rosters are comprised of African Americans 65% of NFL rosters are comprised of African Americans 18% of MLB rosters are comprised of African Americans 18% of MLB rosters are comprised of African Americans Around only 60 African American players have played in the Around only 60 African American players have played in the NHL, about 20 of them are currently playing. NHL, about 20 of them are currently playing.