1940's Sports | "Jackie Robinson With Ben Chapman"

Photograph

Date: May 9, 1947

Source: "Jackie Robinson With Ben Chapman." May 9, 1947. Corbis. Image no. U834662ACME. Available online at http://pro.corbis.com (accessed April 16, 2003).

About the Athlete: Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) was born in Cairo, Georgia, grew up in Pasadena, California, and attended UCLA, lettering in baseball, basketball, football, and track. After serving in the army as a second lieutenant during World War II and a season in the Negro Leagues, Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played the 1946 season with Montreal, Brooklyn's top minor league team. In 1947, Robinson joined the Dodgers and played ten seasons with the team. After his playing career, Robinson remained active in business, politics, and a champion of civil rights causes until his death.

Introduction

During World War II, African Americans had...