Why Jackie Robinson is the Best Athlete Ever.

September 19, 2006 - I have come up with the best athlete of all-time. The person I have chosen is a National Hero, and a man of great reverence. That person is
JackieRobinson
. He is the best athlete of all-time, not only because of his physical capabilities, but because of his strong mind. I am not saying that he could not be considered my best athlete of all-time with his athletic prowess alone, because he can be, but his strong character was a testament to his killer instinct as an athlete.

From the beginning of his adult sports career,
JackieRobinson
established himself as one of the most versatile athletes of all-time. At UCLA, he was a prominent player in football, basketball, baseball and track, and he was the first athlete in UCLA history to gain a letter in all 4 of those sports. That is something that cannot be ignored, because nobody else, who has ever been in the discussion of best athlete, has ever demonstrated such versatility in this manner. He managed to be the top point scorer in his school's basketball conference, he was an All-American football player, a champion long-jumper, and of course, he was an outstanding baseball shortstop.

His pro career would go on to not only exemplify his athletic prowess, but his strength of mind as well. Harbored by the incessant hatred and revulsion cast upon him as a Black Man, Jackie continued to be the best athlete on the face of the planet. He would first play pro football where he was a star for a
Hawaii
team. He then would enlist in the army for 3 years. Say what you will about this following statement, but when a Black man (at this time in history) becomes a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, it demonstrates certain levels of intellectual and athletic dominance because Black men were often refused admission into

Officer
Candidate
School

.

In 1947, after dominating the Negro American League for a long while, the Brooklyn Dodgers finally opened its doors to the best athlete of all-time. Focusing on his athletic prowess, and racism aside, Jackie went on to be one of the more versatile players in MLB history. He played first base, second base, third base and outfield during his tenured career with the Dodgers. He hit .297 and was the Major League leader with 29 bases in just his rookie season, leading to his attainment of the Rookie of the Year Award. Two years later, he would win the Most Valuable Player Award in 1949, while being a major contributor to
Brooklyn
's pennant team that year. In 1955, at the age of 36 and in the decline of his career, he was still the best player on the Dodgers' World Series team.

By the end of his athletic career, Jackie was a .311 hitter, and was the most successful baseball runner among his peers. He had also changed the game by disrupting pitchers and catchers with his amazing base running, stealing home more than anybody to ever come along after him. He was a six time all-star, with all of his all-star appearances coming after he was 30 since he only came into the league at age 28. To do what he did in the Major Leagues, in what was basically the twilight of his career, is just unfathomable. However, his ability on the field was nothing compared to his strength off of it. To be the best athlete, you must also possess one of the strongest minds, and there was no one who proved strength more than
JackieRobinson
. But if you think you can find a better athlete, and a stronger-minded person, than you'll have to show me the test tube he or she came out of!