Jackie Robinson

    Jackie Robinson was known as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but his life was not only focused on this one sport during the 1940s.

    Jackie Robinson attended the UCLA and he excelled in many sports including, baseball, football, basketball and track. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish college due to financial problems in his family. Later, Jackie Robinson decided to enlist in the army and after two years, he was raised to the position of a second lieutenant. Jackie left the army in 1945 and joined the Negro Baseball League. In 1947, he was noticed by the Brooklyn Dodgers’ president and he became the first African American to join a major league since the segregation of baseball in the 1900s. He symbolized a challenge to the racial discrimination and segregation during that time. He gave hope to millions of African American baseball players.

    Jackie Robinson led the Brooklyn Dodgers to six World Series and one World Series Champion. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1947 and National League MVP in the 1949.