Jonathan Propst

4/8/15
Period 1
Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente: Heroes in Baseball
How do you determine if someone is a hero? Through their actions or their extreme
efforts? Through helping people and making their lives better? Roberto Clemente
and Jackie Robinson showed heroism through giving back, leadership abilities, and
their positive attitudes. I'm
Jackie Robinson is one of the most profound and recognized athletes in
American history, he was a great player, but what truly makes him great is the
amount of racism and hatred he endured. Jackie Robinson was the first African
American to ever play in major league baseball, and at a time where many white
people were still racist towards blacks, Jackie went through a lot over the time of his
baseball career. Rickey also personally tested Robinson's reactions to the racial
slurs and insults he knew the player would endure... People in the crowds
sometimes jeered at Robinson, and he and his family received threats,(). Jackie
Robinson had a lot of people that did not want him in the league and tried to do what
hey can to force him out of it, but Jackie was strong and thought nothing of these
peoples attempts to anger him. Jackie Robinson was a true hero in every aspect of
his life. After being drafted in 1942, Robinson became an officer in the US Army. His
military career was derailed after he was arrested for refusing to move to the back of
a bus and was subsequently arrested by military police. Put up for court-martial, he
was later acquitted by a panel of nine
whites,(http://www.biography.com/people/jackie-robinson-9460813). Clearly Jackie

Robinson wasnt afraid to stand up for African Americans, as like another famous
Civil Rights activist, Rosa Parks, he refused to give up his seat to a white person.
Even more reason why many people wanted him out of the league, he was
becoming the most dominant player in the league. He continued to wow fans and
critics alike with impressive feats, such as an outstanding .342 batting average
during the 1949 season. He led in stolen bases that year and earned the National
League's Most Valuable Player
Award,(http://memory.loc.gov/ammen/collections/robinson). With his success
combined with his race, opposing fans, players, and many people around the league
disliked Jackie Robinson, but it was clear, that he was there to stay. Jackie Robinson
continued to thrive and he opened the door for all African American athletes,
including Roberto Clemente.
Roberto Clemente isn't nearly as well known as Jackie Robinson, but the
impacts he had on people, was heroic. Roberto was truly a great person, whenever
he wasn't tearing up the Major Leagues, he would spend all of his free time helping
others. "For many years, even after becoming one of baseball's great players, he
would spend the off-season helping others with his time and energy as well as his
money,"(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/802259-40-biggest-heroes-in-baseballhistory/page/40). Giving all of his effort and time and money to help and give back to
others is truly a heroic act. Clemente's willing spirit would even go on until the day
that he died. "On New Year's Eve, he boarded a rickety old DC-7 cargo plane and
took off on his mission. Moments after takeoff, the plane went down, killing everyone
on board. Clemente's body was never found,"(http://web.b.ebscohost.com/brc/detail?
sid=6213f51d-b02f-4fb1-84caef25e69fac89%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9YnJjLWxpdmU

%3d#db=b6h&AN=6946436). For such a good person, going to help people, it is

quite unfortunate this happened, but it shows the amount of dedication that was put
into helping others. Although Robinson and Clemente did very different things, they
both made lives better for others.
Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente are arguably the two biggest heroes in
baseball history. Jackie Robinson is the most well known baseball figure ever, as he
is known as a civil rights leader and helping integrate sports. Roberto Clemente,
though not as drastically as Robinson, did work that helped others greatly, by helping
people in need. Both of these people dedicated their entire lives to helping others
and increasing the quality of life for all. 'What you do to "make things better" is up to
you. You might collect food for a food bank . . . teach your little brother how to tie his
shoes . . . play checkers with the old man who lives next door . . . empty the
dishwasher . . . send a card to your grandmother . . . you figure it
out!'(http://web.b.ebscohost.com/brc/detail?sid=6213f51d-b02f-4fb1-84caef25e69fac89%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9YnJjLWxpdmU
%3d#db=b6h&AN=6946436). Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson both did this
in different ways, they both helped people in the ways that made sense for them.
That is how Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente were alike.
Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente are both just genuinely kind, giving
people. The are both strong willed and would do anything they could to help others.
They would both show heroism through giving back, leadership abilities, and their
positive attitudes. Many people are great all around people, heroes, and Jackie
Robinson and Roberto Clemente are just that.