Jackie Robison was the first African American to play in the major leagues. He was a great thing for baseball, he revolutionized the game forever. Jackie made an impact in the 1960s and on generations to come. Jackie Robinson had a great influence on all sports. He got rid of racial rules in sports, gave hope to African Americans, but had difficult times in the League and was a good role model for all. He was also an exciting player to watch. He won many awards during his baseball career. He played second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He wore the number 42. Today, baseball players are no longer allowed to wear the number 42 out of respect for Jackie Robinson. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. Her mother, Mallie Robinson, raised Jackie and her four other children alone. They were the only black family in their neighborhood, and the prejudice they encountered only strengthened their bond. Growing up in a large single-parent household, Jackie excelled early in all sports and learned to carve her own path in life. At UCLA, Jackie became the first athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track and field. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to abandon his studies and eventually decided to enlist in the United States Army. After two years in the army, he became a second lieutenant. Jackie's military career was cut short when he was court-martialed over his objections to incidents of racial discrimination. Ultimately, Jackie left the military with an honorable discharge. Jackie married Rachel Isum, a nursing student he met at UCLA, in 1946. As an African-American baseball player, Jackie was exposed for...... middle of paper .. ....ts Field, Jackie didn't fight back. In fact, baseball's "Great Experiment" was a huge success. Despite owners' concerns, the integration proved to be a financial boon for Major League Baseball. Robinson and the Dodgers eclipsed the home attendance record they had set the year before. They also broke single-game attendance records at every National League stadium they played in during the 1947 season, with the exception of Cincinnati's Crosley Field, where the attendance record for the first major league night game held up. Towards the end of the season, Jackie was celebrated by fans with a day in her honor. At the end of the year, he finished second to crooner Bing Crosby in a national popularity poll. Works Cited Schwartz, L. (nd). Jackie changed the face of sport. Retrieved April 22, 2014 from Espn Sports Century: espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016431.html