Jackie Robinson Listening

Jackie Robinson was the ____ African American to play baseball in the modern era of the major leagues.

• fourth

• fastest

• fifth

• first

He played as an infielder and outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers from _____.

• 1947 through 1956

• 1997 through 2006

• 1957 through 1966

• 1937 through 1946

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on ____, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He grew up in Pasadena, California.

• January 21

• January 30

• January 31

• January 1

He was a ____ athlete in football, basketball, track, and baseball at the University of California at Los Angeles. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the U.S. Army.

• stark

• stuck

• starting

• star

After leaving the Army Robinson played baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs. The team belonged to the Negro American League. At that time only white players ___ ____ in the major leagues.

• were succeeding

• were lolling

• were playing

• were allowed

Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was ____ in making big-league baseball open to Black players. He knew that the first African American brought into the majors would have to be very special.

• interesting

• interested

• targeted

• international

When Rickey met Robinson, he knew he had found the right person. Robinson first played for the Dodgers in 1947. At the end of the season he was chosen as the best new player in baseball. In 1949 he was _____ as the most valuable player in the National League.

• choose

• selected

• chosen

• choice

Although Robinson played well, things were not always easy. ____ in the crowd often shouted hateful things at him. Pitchers sometimes threw the ball at him on purpose.

• Families and children

• Children and families

• People and players

• Players and people

But Robinson refused to quit. Robinson helped the Dodgers win ___ National League pennants and ___ World Series title. He retired from baseball in 1957.

• six, one

• sixth, one

• sixteen, won

• six, won

Robinson then became a _____ and worked for civil rights.

• businessman

• businessmen

• business owner

• business manager