Sports-p4

Sports in the 1950's- Mikey

One of the most popular sports in the 1950's was baseball, but America's favorite past-time was soon going to get a big wake up call. The all-white league was about to bring in two African Americans, Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. Only three Major League Baseball teams, The Giants, The Indians, and The Dodgers, drafted African Americans onto their team. As people watched live broadcasted games on their black and white TV’s, the MLB took in 6 million dollars in profit.

In the 1950's with the Cold War beginning, the Olympic Committee hoped that all nations would put aside their political differences. But even the players were used as a political tool. The president of the International Olympic Committee had to remove several talented Jewish American track runners. By taking the Jewish American runners out, he made sure the Nazi's would not be angered.

Baseball was an essential part of every person’s life, even soldiers were found picking up a rock and a stick to play when in non-war combat. Yet baseball was not the only big sport. Boxing was also a big sport back in the 1950's. African-Americans were also allowed to participate in this sport. The fight of Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles was an inspiration to many.

Jackie Robinson was born in 1919. After his birth his whole family knew that there would be racial discrimination since they were the only African American family on the block. Soon after, the Robinsons moved to California where Jackie found himself in the college of UCLA. Jackie was an outstanding athlete in college. He played baseball, basketball, football, and ran track. One day Jackie had to choose which sport to pick from, and he decided on baseball.

After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, he was probably one of the most excellent baseball players of his time. He batted and threw right handed, and wore the number 42. In Jackie’s 10 seasons with the Dodgers, they won 6 pennants and 6 World Series. He dominated on the base paths, stealing home and impressive nineteen times. He was named MVP in 1949 with a batting average of .342 37 steals and 124 runs knocked in.