Jackie Robinson?

Question

Did Jackie Robinson break the color barrier in baseball, or is it the owner that signed him that broke the barrier?

Answer 1

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) became the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era in 1947.[1] The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Robinson in 1962 and he was a member of six World Series teams. Jackie earned six consecutive All-Star Game nominations and won several awards during his career. In 1947, Robinson won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the first MLB Rookie of the Year Award Award. Two years later, Jackie was awarded his first National League MVP Award. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Jackie Robinson was also a forerunner of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a key figure in the establishment and growth of the Freedom Bank, an African-American owned and controlled entity, in the 1960s. He also wrote a syndicated newspaper column for a number of years, in which he was an outspoken supporter of Martin Luther King Jr. and, to a lesser degree, Malcolm X.[2]

Robinson actively campaigned for a number of politicians, including both Democrat Hubert Humphrey, and Republican Richard Nixon.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Robinson posthumously received a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[2]

On April 15, 1997, the 50 year anniversary of his debut in the MLB, Major League Baseball retired the number 42, the number Robinson wore, in recognition of his accomplishments both on the field and off the field.[3] In 1950, he was the subject of a film biography, The Jackie Robinson Story, in which he played himself. He became a political activist in his post-playing days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Robinson

Answer 2

As a player , Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball but Branch Rickey deserves some of the credit because it was his administrative position that was able to get the ball rolling to begin the integration of baseball. He also waited for the first commissioner of baseball, a known bigot , Kennesaw Mountain Landis to pass away a year earlier. It did make the road more smoothed over for such a radical idea. In the case of the integrating of baseball Jackie Robinson could not have done this alone . He would have needed help at the administrative level but it is to his credit how he handled the situation as well as he did.

Answer 3

Jackie Robinson

Answer 4

The answer would be no to both questions. William Edward White was the First Black player to play professional baseball for the Providence Greys. He only played one game. Moses and Welday Walker played for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association in 1884. The reason for the non-black in baseball from 1884 until 1947 could be because most cities in the North were white, and thou there were black they weren’t treated as equals and when given a chance to give a white player a job or a black player most owners would give a white player a job because this would be their fan base. To say Jackie Robinson was the first black player is wrong; to say he broke the color barrier is also wrong it was never really there. To say he was the man who had the courage to stand up and face the hatred every day is something that we can all learn a lesion from.

Answer 5

The "owner" you're talking about's name was Branch Rickey.

And he wasn't an owner. He was a "business manager"... which in current day terms is probably something like a "General Manager" or GM.

Did you know that Branch Rickey was also the man who signed Roberto Clemente? And that he also laid the framework for the modern "farm system" as we know it?

Rickey was a true innovator, and a great man for, if nothing else, having the courage to go to bat for Robinson and get him a chance.

But Branch Rickey didn't have to walk out onto that field and have the awful things shouted at him that Robinson did.

Rickey didn't receive death threats for signing Robinson.

Jackie Robinson endured a heck of a lot and played Hall of Fame baseball through it all.

Saying things to diminish that doesn't serve anybody. Though it's nice that somebody remembered to give Rickey some credit.

Answer 6

This is a good question and I've been impressed by the quality of the answers it has received. Certainly there was a color barrier. Good African American players were not allowed to play in the white leagues. Satchel Paige was one whose heart was nearly broken by the denial of opportunity.
Did you know, for example, that Bill Veeck saw the economic opportunity of fielding an all African American team (the Phillies) and even took steps to do so when Landis let him know that it would not be allowed?

Answer 7

Both, the owner who signed him, and Jackie Robinson who agreed to sign that contract and play for Brooklyn.

Answer 8

Jackie Robinson ---- because of his talent the owner had no other choice !!!!

Answer 9

both. he broke it because he did play, and took a risk, since it was not approved and knew some people would not be happy with his newfound position. but if the owner had not signed him he never would have had the opportunity to play!

Answer 10

both.