Baseball career:

   After Jackie Robinson finished the military In early 1945, while Robinson was at Sam Huston College,

the Kansas City Monarchs sent him a written offer to play professional baseball in the Negro leagues.

Robinson accepted a contract for $5,240 per month, a boon for him at the time. Although he played

well for the Monarchs, Robinson was frustrated with the experience. He had grown used to a structured

playing environment in college, and the Negro leagues' disorganization and embrace of gambling

interests appalled him. The hectic travel schedule also placed a burden on his relationship with Isum

(is wife), with whom he could now communicate only by letter. In all, Robinson played 47 games at

 shortstop for the Monarchs, hitting .387 with five home runs, and registering 13 stolen bases. He also appeared in the 1945 Negro League All-Star Game, going hitless in five at-bats. 

           The following year, Robinson became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues in 1947, six days before Jackie signed with the Dodgers. With Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson played his initial major league season as a first baseman. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut at the relatively advanced age of 28 at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, including more than 14,000 black patrons. Although he failed to get a base hit, he walked and scored a run in the Dodgers' 5-3 victory. Robinson became the first player since 1880 to openly break the major league baseball color line. Black fans began flocking to see the Dodgers when they came to town, abandoning their Negro league teams. Robinson finished the season having played in 151 games for the Dodgers.  He had 175 hits ,scoring 125 runs,including 31 doubles, 5 triples, 12 home runs, driving in 48 runs for the year.

 

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