Jackie Robinson
Since its inception in the late 19th century, baseball had become a predominately white game. There had never been an official "No Blacks" rule, but rather a slow and sysytematic exclusion of any black player from organized baseball. But, in 1947, a young UCLA graduate named Jackie Robinson came along. While Robinson is best known for being a fabulous baseball star, he was an excellent athelete in all sports. He became the first UCLA student to earn varsity letters in four different sports: basketball, football, track, and baseball. However, when Branch Rickey first came to Robinson in 1945, he was not only looking for an excellent baseball player. He needed someone who would be able to handle the racism without fighting back. Throughout his eight year career, Robinson always handled any racist situation with class. He never resorted to fighting back, but instead let his talent and integrity do the talking for him. Even when he was the target of low-class threats, physical violence, and all around cheap play, Robinson found a way to rise above. Though he is remembered by most only as a someone who changed baseball, he was also involved in civil rights for many years after his baseball career. He wrote many letters concerning civil rights and protection to multiple presidents.