Listening 29 – Listen for specific words

Jackie Robinson was not the first African-American to play in the major leagues; there were a handful of black baseball players at the end of the century. However, in 1884, a famous player named Cap Anson refused to play any team with a black player on its roster. The from Anson and other white players influenced managers and team owners, and the end result was the effective of African-Americans from major league baseball for over sixty years. Separate “Negro Leagues” were created for them to play.

In college, Robinson had played football, basketball, track, and baseball, and one described his athletic prowess as “outstanding.” After graduating, he served in the army, where an incident of racism derailed his military . After refusing a bus driver’s request to move to the back of the bus, Robinson was taken into custody by police and interrogated with racist questions. When he confronted the about this, he was charged with insubordination. Although he was acquitted, the trial prevented him from being deployed overseas – and he eventually left the military and on with a team in the Negro Leagues.

Robinson received a decent salary, but he became with the hectic travel schedule that prevented him from seeing his girlfriend, Rachel, who he would later marry. Robinson the attention of the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who contracted him to play on a minor league team.

There were still hurdles to overcome – Robinson was not allowed to stay at the same as his teammates, and several games in which he was scheduled to play were abruptly canceled by the local authorities. His season got off to a mediocre start, but improved greatly after he changed to a different in the field. The following year, he was called up to the major leagues and made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, thus becoming the first player since 1880 to openly the color line in baseball.

Robinson received reviews from the media, but was generally accepted by the public – and black fans began flocking to the Dodgers’ games. However, some of his own teammates insinuated that they would rather sit out than play alongside him. He was also taunted by of opposing teams, and became the target for some rough physical play. Despite the abuse, Robinson’s stellar performance earned him the Rookie of the Year for the all-around best first-year player.

Robinson’s career with the Dodgers lasted years, and he retired after his health began to deteriorate, later being diagnosed with diabetes. The Dodgers honored him by retiring his uniform number, meaning no other player on the team could ever use Jackie Robinson’s famous 42 – and he became the first black player to be to the baseball Hall of Fame.

Later in life, Robinson served as a commentator and also became in politics and business. He worked to advance the cause of black people in sports, commerce, and industry, and also established a construction company to build for poor families. Both his breaking of the color barrier and his professional success were monumental steps forward in the for civil rights.