Jack Roosevelt Robinson rose from humble origins to break the color barrier in baseball, becoming one of the most beloved men in America. His tremendous baseball skill, strength of character and insistence on equality made him the perfect choice for Branch Rickey, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, in his search for a black player with the talent and fortitude to integrate Major League Baseball.

#JackieRobinsonPBS Part II. Jack Roosevelt Robinson rose from humble origins to cross baseball’s color line and become one of the most beloved men in America. A fierce integrationist, Robinson used his immense fame to speak out against the discrimination he saw on and off the field, angering fans, the press, and even teammates who had once celebrated him for “turning the other cheek.”