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[[File:Jackie_Robinson,_Brooklyn_Dodgers,_1954.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|Jackie Robinson]]__NOTOC__

Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in major league baseball on April 15, 1947. He went 0 for 3. He reached base once, scoring a run in a Brooklyn Dodgers victory. As a statistical line it was not the most auspicious of debuts. That Robinson debuted at all was the greatest accomplishment of the day.

After that first game without a hit, Robinson settled into the season, batting .300 for most of the campaign and leading the team in home runs, stolen bases and total bases. The Dodgers took the New York Yankees to a game seven in the 1947 World Series, ultimately losing the championship 4 games to 3.

Robinson’s debut had an almost immediate impact throughout baseball. In July of 1947 Larry Doby became the first African-American to play for an American League team, the Cleveland Indians. Others followed in 1947, Willard Brown and Henry Thompson were briefly called up for the St. Louis Browns. Dan Bankhead pitched in three games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 as well. Though Robinson and Doby were the only two to stay for an extended period of time from that 1947 class, it was clear that the color line was a thing of the past.

====Legacy====

Robinson played professional baseball for ten seasons. When the Dodgers traded him to the New York Giants in the fall of 1956, he refused to report to the new team, effectively ending his career. At the time of his retirement, 13 of the 16 major league teams had integrated their squads. In the first wave of African-American players to reach the major leagues, six were later elected to the Hall of Fame, including Monte Irvin, Ernie Banks and Willie Mays. Robison was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility. He had his number 42 retired by the Dodgers in 1972. To honor his legacy for all of baseball, Major League Baseball retired his number for all teams in 1997, the only player to be afforded such an honor.

Robinson was also active in mainstream politics as well, always supporting the candidate he felt best advanced the cause of civil rights. He supported Richard Nixon in 1960, but felt Kennedy during his presidency was a strong advocate for African-Americans. When the Republican Party nominated Barry Goldwater in 1964, he left the party entirely and supported the Democrats for the rest of his life. Sadly, it was only a short time. Due to complications from diabetes and heart disease, Robinson suffered heart attack in 1974 and died. He was 53 years old.

Jackie Robinson is remembered for that day in April 1947, but for so much more as well. Not only was the first African-American to play Major League baseball, he did it under extraordinary circumstances. He experienced the full force of American racism both on and off the field. He stood up to that racism during his playing career and well beyond. Jackie Robinson’s fight against discrimination and inequality didn’t end with his Major League debut, it had barely started. His stellar career and continued activism afterward are what make him a hero.

====Bibliography====