Jackie Robinson wore number 42 on the field when he played for the Dodgers in 1947 (Jackie Robinson). He was born in Cairo, Georgia. He was the first UCLA athlete to receive a varsity letter in four sports: football, basketball, track and field and baseball. Forced to drop out of college for reasons of necessity, Jackie had joined the army (Jackie Robinson). Jackie also had a successful military career, after just two years he became a second lieutenant, but that career was also cut short when he was summoned to court due to racial objections (Jackie Robinson). Jackie Robinson was brave enough to play baseball knowing the risk he took playing in the league in such a racist time. A quote said by Jackie Robinson by Rickey "Jackie, we don't have an army. There's practically no one on our side. No owners, no umpires, very few journalists. And I'm afraid a lot of fans might be hostile. We'll be in a position difficult. We can only win if we can convince the world that I'm doing this because you're a great ballplayer and a fine gentleman." (Jackie Robinson). Born in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson was raised only by his mother who was a sharecropper (Jackie Robinson). He had four other siblings who were also raised by Jackie's single mother. As the only African American family on their block, they had experienced racial prejudice almost every day. This tough upbringing had helped Jackie develop the characteristics he needed to be the first African-American baseball player to join the league. After Jackie joined the league playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he married his girlfriend Rachel Issum (Jackie Robinson). Jackie Robinson was also the first African-American MLB player to appear on the US postage stamp (Jackie Robinson). "I guess you'd call me a... middle of paper... artz.) The problem with Jackie was that to be in the league you had to put up with criticism, but he wasn't one to let people take control of him , so he spoke out and the team didn't want the league to see that it could survive MLB without violence (Schwartz said, "I know you're good). baseball player. What I don't know is if you have the courage." (Schwartz). That's why they brought him in to prove he could be in the MLB. People cheered Jackie on with racist comments saying he was afraid to fight back and had to. Block them so he could play ( Schwartz). (Schwartz) Works Cited Jackie Robinson 2014 .