Reproducible 1

Jackie Robinson by 1890, most professional baseball metal cleats. Rickey was testing whether with daughter leagues in America were “segregated.” my father would have the strength of Sharon. Until 1947, black- and brown-skinned character to fight back with his bat players were in the Negro Leagues, rather than his fist. My father agreed to while whites played in the Majors. this approach. Two months later, he In 1945, Branch Rickey, president signed with the Montreal Royals, the and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers™ farm team. Dodgers™, stepped forward to break As predicted, my father played baseball’s color barrier. He studied baseball against amazing odds. He the field, using scouts to explore the fought back with perfectly timed pool of players. There were many bunts, hard line drives, and stolen Negro League players who were bases. On April 15, 1947, Jack well-known and proven professional Roosevelt Robinson stepped onto the baseball players. Players such as grass of Ebbets Field™ as a member Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson of the Brooklyn Dodgers™. He went About My certainly headed the list provided by on to play 10 seasons, earning such Mr. Rickey’s scouts, but they agreed awards as Rookie of the Year and on Jack Roosevelt Robinson. Most Valuable Player. Father The scouts told Mr. Rickey that, By Sharon Robinson during his season with the Negro League team the Kansas City Robinson was the first Monarchs, Jackie Robinson athlete at UCLA to letter in pril 15 marks the anniversary played shortstop. He hit .387, four sports in a single year.” of Jackie Robinson’s breaking perfected his skill at stealing A of the color barrier in bases, and was selected for the Major League Baseball. A student league’s All-Star Game. It took 13 long seasons before once asked me: “What is the color They presented my father’s college every Major League Baseball team barrier?” Baseball’s “color barrier” statistics next. Rickey learned that had at least one African-American signifies the period in American while at UCLA, my dad was the player on its roster. Today, Major history when black- and brown- leading basketball scorer in his League Baseball players come from skinned ballplayers were kept out conference, the national champion around the world and continue to of the Majors™. In 1947, my father, in the long jump, an All-American break barriers of culture, language, Jackie Robinson, broke through that halfback in football, and a varsity race, and religion. Like you, they face barrier and opened the door for baseball shortstop. In fact, Robinson barriers and meet challenges with the others to follow. was the first athlete at UCLA to letter same set of values that helped my Over 17 years ago, I began in four sports in a single year. father succeed on and off the field. working with Major League Baseball In a now-famous meeting, and educators to help students Branch Rickey painted understand “breaking barriers” and the stressful conditions Jackie Robinson’s legacy of change. my father would face By participating in these lessons, in the Majors. Rickey you’ll learn about the values that role-played a racist fan made my father successful on the shouting angry insults. A field, and which also guided him spiteful opponent might as a parent. You’ll likewise discover spike my father with strengths in your own character to help you overcome barriers in your life. Let’s get started! Jackie Robinson sliding American baseball became popular into home, 1949. during the Civil War. Briefly in the late 1800s, two black ballplayers, Bud Fowler and Moses Fleetwood

©/TM 2012/13 The Office of the Commissioner Baseball. All rights reserved. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Photos, top to bottom: Courtesy of the Robinson Family; © AP Photo. Walker, played alongside whites. But