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Breaking Baseball's Color Barrier
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Branch Rickey was Born
Branch Rickey was born in Portsmouth, Ohio -
Gentleman Agreement
A well-known baseball player named Cap Anson started the "Gentlemen's Agreement", the unwritten rule that "no negro could play baseball" in the Major Leagues. (Hannon, Tom) -
Plessy vs Ferguson
Supreme court case declaring seperation of white and black facilities was legal.(Leadership Conference) -
Charles Thomas' Anguish
The Hotel argument that inspired Branch Rickey to break the color barrier. -
Rickey Manages the Brooklyn Dodgers
Branch Rickey became the manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942, now in a position to recruit African Americans. ("Logo of the Brooklyn Dodgers") -
Jackie Robinson is Recruited
Branch Rickey recuits African American Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers and break MLB's color Barrier. (Sandberg) -
Larry Doby is Recruited
Following Branch Rickey, the Cleveland Indians recruit African American Larry Doby to play baseball. (DAN) -
African Americans in the MLB
By the year 1954, ten African American baseball players were recruited to play in the Major Leagues. Most of them were drafted following Jackie Robinson's first season, ending the color barrier. (DAN) -
Rosa Park's Refusal
The widely known story of how Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat on the bus. Led to the Montgomery Bus boycott and the start of the Civil Rights Movement. ("Rosa Parks") -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Organized by Martin Luther King Jr., people refused to ride the buses until blacks were treated courteously. Resulted in a Supreme Court Ruling declaring segregation of buses unconsitutional. ("Rosa Parks") -
Jackie Robinson Hall of Fame
In 1962, Jacke Robinson became the first African American to be inducted into the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. ("Jacke Robinson") -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination against race and color. Also declared segregation unconstitutional. (Davidson, Bruce) -
Branch Rickey's Integration: 45 Years Later
By 1991, 17% of Major League Baseball Players were African American and 13% were Latino. This shows that Branch Rickey's acomplishments are permanent: Baseball's Color Line is History. (Lapchick) -
Barack Obama Inaugurated
Barack Obama becomes the first black president of the United States of America in 2009. In the words of Roger Kahn, "Without the foresight and high moral purpose of Branch Rickey... Barack Obama could not have been elected president of the United States" (Kahn ix).
