Kyle Schmitt ETE September 25 th, 2009

The Progression, Segregation, and Jackie Robinson

 1845: Alexander Cartwright publishes set of rules that are widely adopted for playing the game of baseball  1871: The first professional league formed, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players  1876: The first major league, the National League is formed.

 Just like in everyday society, baseball teams were segregated  African-Americans played on all black teams  Notable black amateur teams included the Pythian Club and the Colored Union Club  In the 1880’s professional teams were formed, including the St. Louis Black Stockings and the Cuban Giants

 African-American catcher  Played for an integrated team, the Toldeo Blue Stockings  In 1883, the Chicago White Stockings refused to play a game against Toledo because of Walker  In 1884, he became the first black major-leaguer

 Segregation was back in full effect after the likes of Walker  Negro leagues were formed  In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier  This changed the game forever

 Responsible for signing Jackie Robinson  Helped integrate baseball  Sportswriter Red Smith summed up Rickey's persona: "player, manager, executive, lawyer, preacher, horse-trader, spellbinder, innovator, husband and father and grandfather, farmer, logician, obscurantist, reformer, financier, sociologist, crusader, sharper, father confessor, checker shark, friend and fighter." (Editorial page, St. Louis Post- Dispatch, Monday, October 31, 1955)

 Born in Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919  Robinson attended John Muir Technical High School and Pasadena Community College before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles.  Lettered in four sports at UCLA  Joined military and was active in civil rights

 Dishonorably discharged from the military and joined the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues  Robinson officially broke the major league color line when he put on a Dodgers uniform, number 42, in April  This paved the way for full integration of Major League Baseball

 Talk about what this meant not only for baseball but for the United States overall…..

 (2007, April 15). Baseball, the Color Line, and Jackie Robinson. Retrieved from obinson/jr1860s.html