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The Baseball Star, Babe Ruth
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Jackie Robinson Introduction. African Americans play a big part in professional sports today. For many years, however, black athletes weren't allowed to play with white athletes. Jackie Robinson helped change all that. The Early Years. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born into a poor Georgia family in 1919. In college, he was a star on his school's football, track, basketball, and baseball teams. His family had little money, however. He left college in 1941 to help support his family and did not finish. Taking a Stand. In December 1941, the United States entered a war. Like many young men, Robinson had to serve in the war. One day, he and a group of soldiers got on an army bus. Robinson poses in his U.S. Army uniform. The bus was segregated. White soldiers sat in the front and black soldiers in the back. Yet Robinson knew he was as good a soldier as the white men. He would not move to the back when he was told to. Robinson was arrested, but he had only stood up for what was right. He was let go. You're Hired! After his time in the army, Robinson played baseball. In 1945, however, baseball was segregated, too. White and black athletes played in separate leagues. Robinson felt that there should not be separate baseball leagues based on skin color. So did Branch Rickey, the man who ran the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey wanted the Dodgers to be the first white team to include a black player. Rickey knew that this player would not only have to be a great athlete. He would also have to face prejudice because he was African American. Rickey hired Robinson. He had one condition, though. Robinson could only fight prejudice one way-by playing great baseball. Number 42 Takes the Field Wearing number 42, Robinson took the field on April 15, 1947. A crowd of twenty-six thousand people watched as he walked to the plate. Insults rang out from the other team's dugout, but Robinson just played ball. Equal rights won that day. So did the Dodgers. As for Robinson, he went on to have a great career. In 1962, he became the first African American to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Beyond Baseball. After Robinson stopped playing baseball in 1957, he went into business. He also continued to work for equal rights for all people. He died in 1972. Today in the United States, more people of color play in the world of sports than ever before. We all have Number 42 to thank for that.Uzzle, the Football Star Uzzle loves football. He plays it at the playground. He even dreams about it at night. One day, he and Jupe see a football helmet in a store window. "If I had that helmet, I would be a star," he says. Uzzle looks at the price. "It costs too much money," he says. "Maybe there is a helmet like that at a thrift store," says Jupe. "Great idea!" says Uzzle. Uzzle and Jupe go to the thrift store. There are cowboy hats. There are baseball caps. But there are no football helmets. They go to another thrift store. There are hard hats. There are top hats. But there are no football helmets. They go to the last thrift store. Uzzle sees a football helmet! Uzzle tries it on. The helmet slips over his eyes. "Does it fit?" asks Jupe. "It is too big, but monster heads grow fast," says Uzzle. Uzzle wears his too-big football helmet. He bumps into walls. He trips on the curb. He tips the helmet to look in the mirror. "I look like a star," he says. He goes to the playground. Jupe is there. "You can't play football in a too-big helmet," she says. "Yes, I can," says Uzzle. But Uzzle can't pass, punt, or kick. Instead, he misses, trips, and falls. Just then, Lurk comes to play football. Uzzle tips his helmet. He sees that Lurk's head is much bigger than his head. "That's a cool helmet," Lurk says. Uzzle thinks. "I wish I had a helmet like that," Lurk says. Uzzle thinks some more. Finally, Uzzle takes off the too-big helmet. "It doesn't fit me, but maybe it will fit you," Uzzle says. Lurk slips it on. "It fits!" he says. "Thank you, Uzzle!" Then Uzzle, Jupe, and Lurk play football. Uzzle can pass agaÃn. He can punt and kick again. He can even score! "You're a star even without that too-big helmet," says Jupe. "I am?" says Uzzle. "You are," says Lurk in his helmet that is just right!Feliz Navidad, Carlos! School was out for winter break. Carlos and his family packed to go to Monterrey, Mexico. "It's our first trip back since we moved to America," said Carlos. "I can't wait to see everyone!" Carlos sat by the window on the airplane. He saw clouds and blue sky. Then he saw the mountains around Monterrey. "We're almost there!" he said. Carlos's aunt, uncle, and cousins met them at the airport. "Feliz Navidad!" said his uncle. "You are home! This will be a wonderful celebration, now!" They had arrived in time to join in Las Posadas. Candles in paper bags lined the sidewalks. Neighborhood children acted out Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. Carlos, Selena, and Mateo walked the Posada with their cousins. They knocked on the first door. They sang a song and asked, "May we stay?" They were told "No." They knocked on the second door. They were told "No" again. They knocked on the third door. "Come in!" the neighbors said. A fiesta was inside! There were sweets and hot chocolate for everyone. There was even a piñata! "May I try to break the piñata?" Carlos asked. "I play baseball at my school. I can swing hard." Carlos was blindfolded. He hit the piñata and it split open! Treats and toys spilled out everywhere. They heard a boom and pop pop. "Fireworks!" Mateo yelled. Red, green, and blue lights filled the night sky. "It's so beautiful!" said his cousin. At midnight, the family walked to the old church. Inside, the dark church glowed from the light of candles. It was very quiet. Carlos watched the candles flicker all around him. Back at their uncle's home, they found more food and treats waiting for them. "This Navidad has been the best!" said Carlos. "We are lucky." "We can celebrate with our new friends in America and our family here in Mexico." Carlos, Selena, and Mateo were ready for sleep. But Selena remembered something. "Papa, when will we open our presents?" she asked. "We will each open one tomorrow, and the rest on January 6, Three Kings Day," Papa said. "I hope I get a calendar," Carlos said to Mama. "I'll put a star in December," said Carlos. "So I know when we'll come back for Navidad, again!" The Baseball Cap 5WsLet's Play Ball! Baseball is an exciting game that is played all around the world. Players hit a ball with a bat. When you learn the rules, you can play the game. What Is Baseball? Baseball is a game with two teams. A team has nine players. Baseball teams play in an open field. Players use a bat, a ball, gloves, and four bases. A pitcher on one team throws the ball to a catcher on the same team. A batter on the other team hits the ball with the bat. The batter runs to first base, second base, and third base. The runner scores one point if he or she reaches the fourth base– home plate. The Story of Baseball. People have played baseball for hundreds of years. Long ago, people from England brought ball games to America. The games were like baseball in many ways. Over time, people made new rules and the games became one game-baseball. Famous Fields. Baseball fans love the fields where their teams play. In Boston, the team plays at Fenway Park. It is the oldest ballpark in America. Wrigley Field is an old ballpark in Chicago. Teams played there over one hundred years ago. They still play there today. Famous Players. Many people think Babe Ruth was the best baseball player ever. He hit 659 home runs with one team. He played for twenty-one years. Jackie Robinson is a hero. He was the first black baseball player to play on teams with white players. People look up to him for being a great athlete. Roberto Clemente played baseball with his team for eighteen years. He was really good at hitting the baseball. He scored 240 home runs for his team. Derek Jeter played baseball for twenty years. He scored 260 home runs for his team. People will always remember him as a great player. Everybody's Sport. Baseball time begins in the spring and goes until fall. Boys, girls, and grown-ups like to play and watch baseball. Many people think it is the best game in the world. Roberto Clemente, A Hero on and Off The Baseball FieldIt's Cinco de Mayo, Carlos! Carlos and Maria walked past the city park after the baseball game. "It's almost Cinco de Mayo," Carlos said. "The festival is only a month away." "Miss Lopez is teaching us a special dance for the festival," said Maria. "We need one more boy." "Will you dance with us?" asked Maria. "Are you dancing in front of people?" asked Carlos. "Miss Lopez will help you," said Maria, smiling. That evening, Carlos asked Abuela about Cinco de Mayo. "There was a big battle on May 5th, in 1862," said Abuela. "A big army came to attack the small town of Puebla." "Only a small group of young soldiers lived in Puebla. They were scared, but they didn't give up," said Abuela. "The big army didn't think the young soldiers would fight," said Abuela. "But the young soldiers won!" she said. "So, that's what we celebrate on Cinco de Mayo!" said Carlos. Carlos couldn't sleep that night. He thought about the soldiers. He thought about learning the dance. "I can be brave, too," he said. Miss Lopez showed Carlos the steps. He stepped on Maria's foot. He tripped and slipped. "Don't worry," said Maria. "You'll get better." Carlos felt he would never learn. But he didn't give up. His father gave him a surprise on the morning of the festival. "Real cowboy boots!" Carlos said. There were so many things to see. Carlos and Maria stopped to watch a puppet show. The crowd was clapping. "I hope they clap for us," said Carlos. They saw rows of shining cars. "Let's look at the hot rods!" he said. "Hurry, Carlos!" said Maria. "We just have time to put on our costumes." It was time for their dance. Carlos looked at the big crowd. His heart pounded. "You can do it," whispered Maria. Then the music started. People began to clap in time to the music. Carlos stomped his feet in his new cowboy boots. Suddenly, the music stopped. It was over. He hadn't tripped once. The crowd cheered and clapped. Abuela's cheer was the loudest! The Sounds of Baseball