Jackie Robinson The first African-American Player in Major League Baseball Created by Janice Pickett Bibb County Public Schools, 2006

Jackie Robinson He was born on January 31, 1919 near Cario, Georgia. In May, 1920 he moved to California with his mother.

What did the Robinsons find in California? The public pool was open only one day a week to black people.

In the movie theaters, blacks had to sit separately from the whites. Blacks had to sit in the balcony.

Some people cursed the Robinsons and threw rocks at them.

What did Jackie like to do? Jackie loved to play games and sports. He liked to win.

What did Jackie do when he got older? In high school Jackie Robinson starred in track and field, football, basketball, and baseball. At the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) he was a football hero.

Jackie is a soldier. World War II started in Jackie was drafted into the army in 1942.

Was the Army fair to black men when Jackie was a soldier? Jackie could not be on the army baseball team because he was black. The army restaurant had a separate sections for black and white soldiers. Black soldier were turned down when they first applied to officers school. Sometimes black soldier were told to go to the back of the bus.

Jackie and the Army In August 1944, Jackie Robinson was court-martialed – put on trial by the army- for not showing respect to an officer. He was judged to be innocent because he had not broken any rules. He decided to leave the Army because he did not think they were fair.

Professional Baseball In 1945, professional baseball was a segregated sport. Black men played on black teams and white men played on white teams.

Jackie Robinson played shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro League. He was a good player. He could hit the ball and run fast.

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers was a white team. The president of the Dodgers wanted baseball teams that were open to all good players, black and white. The president asked Jackie Robinson to play for the Dodgers.

Do not fight back! The president told Jackie that he could expect trouble. But he wanted a ballplayer who would not fight back.

Jackie’s Trouble Jackie could not stay in the same hotels as his white teammates. He could not eat in the same restaurants. Some ballplayers wanted to stop playing. Some ballplayers insulted and kicked Jackie. Nobody thought blacks and whites could play together.

Jackie Wins Jackie Robinson won the Rookie of the Year for being the best first year player in the major league in In 1949 he was selected as the Most Valuable Player in the National League.

The Best Award Jackie Robinson was the first African – American inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Equal Rights Jackie Robinson retired from baseball but worked hard to get equal rights for African- Americans. His playing baseball was the important 1 st step.

Review Watch and listen.

Review Who was the first black baseball player? Jackie Robinson

True or False A black baseball player helped the civil rights movement get started. True