Timeline-+Breaking+the+Color+Barriers

Note to parents and community members: If there is any information on which you would like to comment or provide feedback/insight, please click on the discussion tab above. You must be a registered user. Please click here for those directions.

**Timeline....**
//Here are some important events in sports that impacted the civil rights movement in the U.S.//

1871- Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American pro-baseball player is born in Indian Island Old Town, Maine 1879- John Shippen, the first African American golfer is born in Washington, D.C. 1886- "Smokey" Joe Williams, one of the greatest Negro League pitchers of all time is born in Seguin, Texas. 1887- Jim Thorpe, a Native American, is born in Prague, Oklahoma. He later goes on to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. 1896- John Shippen competes in the U.S. Open at the Shinneckock Hills Golf Club. 1897- Louis Sockalexis signs a major league contract with the Cleveland Spiders. 1908- Jack Johnson becomes the first African American to win the heavyweight championship. 1913- Jesse Owens, a famous African American sprinter, is born. 1919- Jackie Robinson is born in Cairo, Georgia. 1920- Rube Foster forms the National Negro Leagues for black baseball players. 1924- First Negro League World Series is played between the Negro Eastern League and National Negro Leagues. 1935- Willie O' Ree, the first black pro hockey player is born in Canada. 1936- Jesse Owens competes in the Olympics and wins four gold medals. 1945- Branch Rickey, the manager of the Dodgers signs Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract. 1947- Jackie Robinson first African American to enter the MLB. 1950- Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Nat "sweetwater" Clifton became the first African Americans to enter the NBA. 1950- Althea Gibson becomes the first African American women to compete on the world tennis tour. 1953- Jim Thorpe dies after an amazing career of pro-baseball, track and field and football. 1958- Willie O' Ree becomes the first black professional hockey player to compete in a NHL game. 1968- Tommie Smith wins gold at the 1968 Olympics and fellow American John Carlos and Tommie raise their black gloves on the podium to represent black power. 1969- Arthur Ashe, one of the first African American tennis players, is ranked as the best tennis player in the world. 1972- Jackie Robinson dies at age 53 from a heart attack. 1975- Frank Robinson becomes the first African American manager when he is hired by the Cleveland Indians after a hall of fame career as a player.