Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson was an exceptional athlete, activist and businessman. In 1939 he enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and was the first athlete in school history to letter in four sports – football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Jackie was drafted into the Army in 1942 and eventually became a lieutenant.
After the Army, Jackie played in the Negro Baseball League. Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, felt strongly about bringing African American players to the league and asked Jackie if he would consider playing for his team. Jackie was told he would be offered a contract if he had “guts enough not to fight back” when racial slurs were shouted from the stands or if players attempted to injure him on the field.
Despite enormous pressure, Robinson earned the Rookie of the Year award in his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In his second year, Jackie won the National League MVP award and batting title. Eventually, Jackie won respect and became an inspiration and a symbol of opportunity for all African Americans.