Jackie Robinson and Baseball

Jackie Robinson 1955 Topps Baseball Card. Photo courtesy of Baseball Collection on Flickr.
The integration of major league sports affected the perspective of the American people on race and equality. Jackie Robinson improved sports and America. Some people, even today, would disagree, but the impact Robinson had on America was a positive one. People weren’t as accepting as they are now. If Robinson wasn’t strong and if he didn’t continue with his career, sports and America would be the same, we would have made little to no progress on how people treat each other. Jackie Robinson is a hero. He helped change America for the better. Robinson was treated horrible on and off the field, not only by opposing fans, but by his team’s own fans, and by his own teammates. The integration of major league sports was a catalyst to changing the way people viewed the black community. Sports stars are always highly glorified and people look up to them and they respect them. It took a while for America to warm up to Robinson, but once it did it never went back. The integration of baseball wasn’t the beginning of any civil rights movements, but it was a major step that caused a domino effect of change. It all starts on the field.
In 1947, Robinson’s career began. Dodgers manager, Branch Rickey, brought him up from the Negro league not only to make money, but to make a change we could see. Rickey and Robinson broke the color barrier in major leagues sports for good. Today, we have a day in baseball, April 15th, every year to celebrate Robinson and all his accomplishments. Every player, coach, and umpire wear the number 42 on their jerseys to honor Jackie Robinson.
Before Robinson, baseball took another big turn in equality. Women in baseball. In 1942, the All-American Professional Women’s Baseball league was created by Philip Wrigley. Wrigley created this league to keep America’s favorite pastime alive during a time of war. The women’s league was a hit. It drew millions of fans and it lasted about 15 years. Women are now in the baseball hall of fame. Without women in baseball, and without Jackie Robinson, professional sports would have made little to no progress towards equality.