Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player to play in major league baseball. Until 1947, African Americans had not been allowed to play with white baseball players. When Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, many players on other teams refused to play against the Dodgers. But Robinson did not give up. He went on to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and to help the Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series once and the National League pennant six times. When Robinson retired from baseball in 1956, he did not forget his experiences and actively fought for the civil rights of all African Americans.