Jackie Robinson. Part 1

Sixty years ago, Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

When he stepped onto the field a lot of people still didn't think that a black man should be allowed to play professional baseball. So they called him names, shouted insults, and spit on him.

Jackie played through it all. He had agreed not to fight back, not because he didn't want to but because he thought it was the most effective way to change baseball.

Jackie's primary concern was for black Americans to be given the equal rights they deserved. He was willing to take all the abuse in order to establish equality on the baseball field.

Jackie said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

Jackie wore #42 and today players throughout the major league baseball will honor Jackie Robinson's tremendous impact on baseball and American society by wearing his number on their uniforms. Jackie would be surely be happy to see that among those wearing his number is Willie Randolph, the first black manager of a New York team.