Baseball Career
In Robinson's eight year career with the Dodgers, he was one of the best players ever to step onto the diamond. Even in his first game, he scored a run that helped the Dodgers to a 5-3 win over the Boston Braves. During Robinson's eight years, the Dodgers won the pennant six times, winning the World Series in 1955. Robinson played a significant part in the Dodgers success. He was not the best baseball player in his time, but he was a tremendous athlete he wa sand days, Robinson would fight and scrap to win every time. While some people believed that his style of play and his attitude toward racism would cause him to get into fights on and off the field, Robinson always kept a cool head when going about his business. While most people believe the main reason for Branch Rickey's signing of Jackie Robinson was due to Robinson's ability to turn the other cheek, Rickey himself said that he wanted a man who was passionate about the color barrier. He even passed over black players who were much better than Jackie Robinson, like Don Newcombe or Roy Campanella, because he thought that they did not have as much fire in them. Rickey wanted a passionate, almost hot-tempered player, and he found that player in Jackie Robinson. Of course, Rickey still wanted Robinson to keep his cool, and he proved that by testing Robinson with a series of shouted questions during the interview that were meant to infuriate Robinson. Calming himself, "Robinson asked if Rickey wanted a man who was afraid to fight back, and Rickey responded by saying he wanted a man with the courage not to." Robinson's unique combination of passion and coolheadedness eventually earned him the respect of fans and fellow players alike. On the baseball diamond, Robinson nearly willed himself to succeed, becoming Rookie of the Year in his first year despite playing a position he had never played before, first base. Although he had a shaky ankle, he lead the league in steals his rookie year with 29. He also had a .297 batting average, twelve home runs, and forty-eight runs batted. One interesting fact is that he was also hit by a pitch nine times, which lead the league that year. Three years later, in 1949, Robinson was named Most Valuable Player. In 1962, he was voted into the Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson proved to everyone that black athletes could compete right alongside white athletes, and sometimes outdo them too.
These letters are examples of the several threats Robinson received on his life during his career as a baseball player:
(received May 20, 1951)
"We have already gotten rid of several like you. One was found in a river just recently.Robinson, we are going to kill you if you attempt to enter a ballgame at Crosley Field."
The Travelers
September 15, 1953
"Dear Mr. Robinson,
(FBI deletion) was warned not to win the pennant. But he did anyhow, and he won't be in St. Louis. Well that's bad cause you are going to get it. Remember what happened to Arnold Shuyster in Brooklyn in 1952? Well Wed. nite Sept. 15 you die. No use crying to the cops. You'll be executed gangland style at Busch Stadium."
Dodger Hater