The Integration of Baseball

Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, was born during this dangerous time on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie and his family were poor, and as the only black family living on their block, faced prejudice and exclusion because of the color of their skin. Yet despite resistance, Jackie worked hard and became an exceptional athlete, playing on his high school’s varsity baseball, basketball, football, and track teams. If you play sports, whether on a team or on the field at recess, you know that being an athlete requires dedication, courage, discipline, selflessness, and physical and mental toughness. Jackie developed all of these qualities throughout his life.