Jackie Robinson Breaks Baseball Color Line
Jackie Robinson made his major league baseball debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American to play in major league baseball. Because of his role in desegregating major league baseball, Robinson is one of the iconic figures in American history. The historic game was played at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, New York.
Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians became the first African-American in the American League on July 5, 1947.
In one sidelight of his career, Robinson was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), on July 18, 1949. The committee wanted a prominent African-American to rebut remarks by the noted singer and left-wing activist Paul Robeson, who had recently criticized U.S. Cold War policy. After his testimony, Robinson took the train back to New York City and led the Brooklyn Dodgers to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs that night. In one at bat, he walked, stole second, advanced to third on throwing error, and then stole him. Clearly, he was not intimidated or rattled by HUAC.
Although Robinson was never very politically active, on May 13, 1958, he was so upset by President Dwight Eisenhower’s lack of leadership on civil rights that he sent to president an angry letter.
Watch Jackie Robinson steal home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XY-XshGhMU
Listen to the song, “Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?” (Co-written by Count Basie): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-7Ac2LVVYU
Read: Arnold Rampersad, Jackie Robinson: A Biography (1997)
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture here