The true story
For more than 50 years, Black players were kept out of Major League Baseball. Some of the greatest players alive played in the Negro Leagues instead, because the big leagues would not let them in. That was not fair, and Branch Rickey, who ran the Brooklyn Dodgers, decided to change it.
Rickey chose Jackie Robinson, a fast, fiery, brilliant athlete who had starred in four sports at UCLA. Rickey warned him that people would insult him and try to make him fight back. Robinson promised to answer with his playing instead of his fists.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson ran onto the field at Ebbets Field and broke baseball's color barrier. It was not easy. Some fans shouted terrible things. Some opposing players tried to hurt him. He got hate mail. But he kept his promise, and he kept playing.
And he was great. Robinson stole bases, played hard every inning, and helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant. At the end of the season, he won the very first Rookie of the Year award. In 1962, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Today, every April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day. On that day, every player on every Major League team wears number 42 to honor him. His courage opened the door for generations of players and helped change America outside of baseball too.
Talk about it
- Jackie Robinson promised not to fight back. Why was that so hard, and why did it matter?
- What does courage look like when everyone is watching you?
- Why do you think every player wears 42 on Jackie Robinson Day?
Try this
Make a "42" poster. In the middle, draw the number 42. Around it, write words that describe Jackie Robinson, and one way you can stand up for fairness at school.
Good for: Social studies · Black History Month · Character and courage
