Essay --

Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn What do they all have in earthy? They are all some of the most famous African-American baseball game players to ever play in the Major Leagues. One man, though, made it contingent for all of them to play in the Major Leagues. That mans make believe is Jackie Robinson. Although Jackie Robinson faced many adversities through come forth his lifetime, he persevered and became the starting signal African-American in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier and changing the gentlemans gentleman of baseball forever. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was innate(p) on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, to Jerry and Mallie Robinson. President Theodore Roosevelt, who died xxv days before Robinson was born, was the inspiration for his middle name (42 Facts). Robinsons first stint with adversity came righteous six months after he was born when his father aband onenessd the family and ran off to Texas with the neighbors wife. Robi nson and his four erstwhile(a) siblings were raised single-handedly by their mother. After his dad deserted the family, Robinsons mother decided to sell what little they had and move herself and her children in with her buddy in Pasadena, California (Robinson, Jackie). While his mother was at work, Robinson would go to civilize with his older sister, Willa Mae, but since he was not old enough to be enrolled, he would often times have to sit in the sandbox outside of the school all day. Robinsons first encounter with racial scrutiny came when he was about eight years old. He was sweep the sidewalk when a little white neighbor girl yelled Nigger, nigger, nigger at him. He was old enough to know how to respond and did so by calling the little girl cracker. Her father stormed out of the house to confront Rob... ...ican TV sports analyst. He broadcasted for ABCs MLB secret plan of the Week in 1965 (42 Facts). On October 24, 1972, Robinson died from complications of diabetes in Sta mford, Connecticut, at the age of 53. numerous people say the diabetes worsened because of the stress he was under passim his life. In June of that year, the Dodgers retired Robinsons uniform number of 42 and all the teams in the league began to follow and also retire the number 42. Baseball would be extremely different than it is now if it was not for Jackie Robinson. He did not just break the color barrier, he showed this country that if you never give up, gravid things can happen. He brought whites and blacks together in a time where it was warm to do such a thing. Jackie Robinson will always be one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. After all, he was pushed to be the greatest.