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Leadership in Baseball
“His courage, his sense of brotherhood, and his brilliance on the playing field brought a new human dimension not only to the game of baseball but to every area of American life" - Richard Nixon
Jackie Robinson was most known for his leadership in baseball. Robinson was the first African-American baseball player to play with a Major League team in 1947. "On the field, he was a leader because he was such an aggressive player." - Roger Kahn. Branch Rickey signed him because he wanted to break into the African-American talent in the United States and he believed in equality. Rickey knew he needed the right person to be successful. "Branch wanted Jackie because he knew Jackie had absolutely fierce pride and determination." - Walter O'Malley, the Dodgers owner for 29 years. Rickey later named his quest for equality the Robinson Experiment.
When Robinson first came to Brooklyn in 1947, he hit 12 home runs, stole 29 bases, and finished the year with a batting average of .297. He was later named Rookie of the Year. "Dad used to say it didn't matter if somebody resents you. It only mattered if you could make him respect you. Two months into his first major league season, my father's skill gained him the respect of his teammates and the fans." - Sharon Robinson. During his 10 years with the Dodgers, Robinson had a batting average of .311 and 137 home runs. He was elected to the National League All-Star team 6 years in a row, and was National League MVP in 1949. Robinson led the Dodgers to six pennants and Brooklyn's only World Series Championship. "To other black ballplayers, though, he was most often saluted as the first to run the gauntlet. Monte Irvin, who played for the New York Giants while Robinson was with the Dodgers... said... 'Jackie Robinson opened the door of baseball to all men. He was the first to get the opportunity, but if he had not done such a great job, the path would have been so much more difficult.'" (New York Times)
When Robinson first came to Brooklyn in 1947, he hit 12 home runs, stole 29 bases, and finished the year with a batting average of .297. He was later named Rookie of the Year. "Dad used to say it didn't matter if somebody resents you. It only mattered if you could make him respect you. Two months into his first major league season, my father's skill gained him the respect of his teammates and the fans." - Sharon Robinson. During his 10 years with the Dodgers, Robinson had a batting average of .311 and 137 home runs. He was elected to the National League All-Star team 6 years in a row, and was National League MVP in 1949. Robinson led the Dodgers to six pennants and Brooklyn's only World Series Championship. "To other black ballplayers, though, he was most often saluted as the first to run the gauntlet. Monte Irvin, who played for the New York Giants while Robinson was with the Dodgers... said... 'Jackie Robinson opened the door of baseball to all men. He was the first to get the opportunity, but if he had not done such a great job, the path would have been so much more difficult.'" (New York Times)
Robinson continued fighting for African-Americans rights in baseball, long after he stopped playing. On October 15, 1972, just nine days before he died of a heart attack, Robinson was asked to throw out the first pitch in game two of the World Series. However, he did not agree to appear until Bowie Kuhn, baseball's commissioner, promised the MLB would take steps to hire African-Americans in managing positions. "I'm going to be tremendously more pleased, and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day and see a black face, managing in baseball." - Jackie Robinson. That World Series was Robinson's last public appearance before he died on October 24, 1972.