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In 1919 a boy named John Roosevelt Robinson was
born on a farm in Georgia. His parents called him Jackie his father was a
framer when Jackie was one year old his father moved to Florida and left
Jackie’s mother with five kids to care for.Jackie’s mother and the five
kids moved to California.When Jackie started school he was very good at
sports.Jackie broke the school records and got a scholarship to attend the
University of California at Los Angeles. |
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In 1941 the United States entered World War Two
Jackie was drafted into the army.In 1944 Jackie got a honorable discharge
from the army Jackie joined the Kansas City Monarchs in the negro baseball
league and got paid $400 a month.Back then Black players where not allowed
to play in the Major League Baseball so the black people formed there own
League. Some of the best players where in the negro baseball league when
players negro league went to different towns they were not allowed to stay
in hotels the players wandered
the streets for hours looking for some where to sleep. |
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He walked up to the plate for the first time in
the minor league he watched two pitches
go by the third pitch he grounded out to shortstop.Jackie went to
the plate for the seconded at bat there where two men on base Jackie swung
at the first pitch and hit a homerun. |
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Jackie had enough of that hard life playing in
the negro league. He did not want to play any more.Branch Rickey wanted him
to play on the new negro league said he was going to start a new negro team called the Brown
Dodgers but he was about to sign
the first ever black player do a
major league contract. |
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Branch Rickey wanted to talk to Jackie then
Jackie traveled to New York in
1945.Jackie thought that Branch Rickey wanted him to play on the new negro team but Rickey wanted Jackie
to sign a major league contract.Jackie agreed to play in the major leagues
Jackie had to go to Montreal to prove he was good enough to play in the
major leagues. In 1946 he play his first minor league game. |
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Jackie showed that blacks could play in the
major league.Jackie led the international
league championship. He also led the league in run score.The next
year Jackie made it to the major leagues.The Brooklyn Dodgers needed better
players Rickey said I don’t care if they are black,white,or purple!Jackie
played his first major league game in 1947. |
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Jackie was not hitting well his first couple
games.Fans yelled insults,pitchers threw baseballs at him.He came out of
his slump and finished the year with a 297 and led the Dodgers in home runs
and he won the rookie of the year.The fans and the players stopped calling
him names.Jackie got letter that said if he played in Cincinnati he would be shot but Jack took the
chance and lived and did not get shot.In 1949 he won the batting
championship and was foted the most valuable player. Jackie led them to the world series 6 times in 10
years. |
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In 1950 Jackie was going to retire but nobody
new that the presided of the Dodgers said I traded you to the New York
Giants then Jackie said I am retiring. |
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He spent time with his family. Jackie had two
sons and a daughter. After he retired people known him as a black
spokesman.In 1962 Jackie was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame.Three years
latter Branch Rickey died Jackie said he was like a father to him.Jackie
kept fighting for black rights he also fought an illness.In 1972 Jackie
died at the age of 53. |
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Jackie Robinson and the Breaking of the color Barrier By:Russell Shorto
picture Jackie Robinson – wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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Notes
