African Americans and Baseball

Today, African Americans are commonly found playing on major league baseball teams. In fact, many of the most popular and noted players are African American. Few people today would think twice about black and white ball players sharing lockers, travelling together and playing together.

But it was not always so. Prior to the 1940s, there was not one single proven black in the majors. And a lot of people wanted to keep it that way. After all, it had always been that way. We must remember, this was an era before civil rights, the Supreme Court decisions, and the acceptance of African Americans as having full human status.

Well-meaning people often thought of "being nice" to the Negro. But often the stereotype of Bo Jangles or Uncle Remus held sway. And somehow, baseball had always been off limits to African Americans, especially in the majors. Since baseball was as American as apple pie and the national pasttime, it may have revealed something of the American attitude toward the Negro.

Imagine, then, being the first African American to ever play in major league baseball. Think of the psychological barriers which would have to be broken. But it was also an opportunity; an opportunity to be a pioneer - to pave the way for others of like skin color. This pioneering individual would have to posses outstanding characteristics. He would have to be a topnotch athlete; he must possess self-control; he would need a pugnacious and independent spirit to withstand strong

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me for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League? No one could tell me that. As far as I was concerned, neither the Dodgers nor any other Major League team, was thinking of signing a Negro player, any more than of signing a member of a girls' soft-ball team (Robinson 15). But Sukeforth wasn't kidding. Later, he told Jackie that Branch Rickey wanted to see him tomorrow if possible! The rest is history. During Robinson's ten years in Brooklyn, the Dodgers won six pennants. They had only won three in all their previous existence. Jackie had a lot to do with those victories. He batted an average of .311 over those years. In 1949, he won the batting title with .342. He starred at first, second and third base. And he ran like a demon. Incalculable was his contagious competitive flair. Later, he would become the first black man to be voted into baseball's Hall of Fame. His athletic accomplishments were outstanding. But had Jackie been white, he would have simply been another top-notch player. The fact that he was black made the significance of his accomplishment sociological as well as athletic. And it became a milestone! Jackie realized the great significance of his contribution to baseball and to the betterment o

Category: History - A