by B. B. James

Created on: May 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

Jackie Robinson's enduring legacy is his breaking of the "color barrier" that prohibited African-Americans from playing major league baseball for more than a half-century. With his highly chronicled participation in what was truly America's Pastime of that era, Robinson opened another avenue for African-Americans to play a role of prominence in American society, and to be cheered and beloved by people of all races.

In 1947, Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, and proved within weeks that he was a major league caliber player. His achievements were covered positively by most metropolitan newspapers and radio stations at the time, and he was tracked in great detail by the African-American media of the time. Thus, not only was he known widely, but he was known especially well by those people who had the most intense desire for him to succeed.

As a baseball player, Robinson easily earned selection to the Hall of Fame on the merit of his play, not just on his experience as a pioneer. He was a great hitter, a tremendous bunter, and able to use his speed to create havoc when he was on base. He is considered one of the game's greatest-ever baserunners, and movies or still photos of him sliding into home give a sense of his aggressive, smart ballplaying.

That Robinson became a Hall of Famer is remarkable, considering that his entry into the major leagues was delayed by 5 years or more due to his race. He had far less time than a white player of comparable skills would have had to make his mark. And of course, Robinson had to do it under incredible pressure and scrutiny.

With Robinson entrenched, the Dodgers in the next few years added more great African-American players, such as Roy Campanella (catcher) and Don Newcombe (pitcher). These players helped lift a perenially mediocre team into a perennial challenger for the World Series; and the team's ultimate victory in the 1955 World Series over the arch-rival Yankees. The victory was one of those moments that transcended race, as all of Brooklyn (and most of America) rejoiced with the new champs.

It should be noted that while Jackie Robinson is remembered as a baseball player, this was likely his third-best or fourth-best sport. His athletic skills were almost unparalleled. He played running back at Univ. of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and was probably the best player in the college game at the time, but the East Coast-centric nature of the media in the early 1940s denied him full recognition. He was an All-American

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>