Abstract The aim of this essay is to examine the reasoning behind the eventual integration of the MLB. Was it solely due to Jackie Robinson’s ability to tolerate abuse and threats, and on top of that proving he was an exceptional baseball player, or were there other hidden factors involved? Whatever the reasoning Jackie Robinson would play a pivotal role in the integration of the MLB, once known as the “white league”. Which would ultimately give rise to the most important movement in the history of the United States of America: The Civil Rights Movement. This movement would alter the image of the nation and would be essential for its future success. Was Jackie Robinson alone in the integration of Major League Baseball, and for what reasons surrounding Jackie was he successful in integrating the MLB? Or were there other factors that aided Jackie in baseball's greatest experiment? This paper investigates these questions. This papers investigation in Jackie Robinson’s integration of baseball is based on primary sources from newspapers, articles, and journals, along with secondary sources written by historians providing a range of viewpoints on Jackie Robinson, the integration of the MLB, as well as other factors proving pivotal in Jackie’s success. The conclusion reached is that Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was able to initiate the process of integrating the MLB fully by proving blacks were an honorable, virtuous race, that had the ability to reach the athletic level of whites in Major League baseball and stand out as players of excellence. Though Jackie’s success remains on the shoulders of the select few who carried him down his path to the Major leagues and success, along with the publicity he received in doing so, changing hatred to sympathy, establishing the start point of the change of a nations view on the African American culture. A. Introduction The US had just concluded [in 1945] fighting a war against fascism, racism, and ethnic genocide with a racially segregated military, among whose leadership it was generally believed that blacks did not make either good combat soldiers or good officers, an irony not lost on a good deal of America’s leadership, its allies, and its enemies, and certainly not lost at all on most African Americans.1 America intended to become the role-model state, but if it had any special weaknesses it would be its race problem. Wendell Smith, an outspoken, blacks advocate, saw an opportunity for blacks to integrate into the nations National Pastime. Branch Rickey approached by Smith began the process, and within two years, made the unprecedented move of signing Kansas City Monarchs star slugger, Jack Roosevelt Robinson on October 23rd, 1945. He was aware of the heavy criticism that he and his organization would face, but it was step he knew had to be taken. Jackie was trying to prove, as a symbol for the African American society and culture, that he and his ‘race’ deserved equality to whites. He wanted to show that blacks had the ability mentally and physically to play in the Major Leagues, to start the process of integrating the MLB. Historians like Gerald Early believed just this. Though whites believed blacks did not have the capability to play at the same professional level as them. They believed people like them, dishonorable and lesser beings did not deserve to be regarded on the same level as whites. Larry Macphail believed just this. This essay will investigate the various factors, which led Jackie Robinson to desegregate Major League Baseball. This essays goal is to answer the question how was Jackie Robinson able to integrate the MLB. Although it is believed that Jackie is the sole reason for the desegregation of the MLB, this essay will show how outside agencies such as; Wendell Smith, Branch Rickey, printing press, and the television, helped Jackie in his journey to desegregate the MLB. How Jackie was able to effectively endure the abuse hurled at him, which in turn changed that abuse into national sympathy, and additionally how he was able to cement the integration of the MLB by displaying how African Americans could the same athletic skill sets to play and succeed in the Major Leagues as a player. B. How Jackie displayed the African American Cultural Honor and Virtue Jackie Roosevelt Robinson characterized the African American cultural honor and virtue through his actions and non-reactions. On a certain level, athletes are a special sort of socially constructed mirror that reflects a romanticized version of cultural honor and cultural virtue.2 His time moving from minor league baseball to the end of his career in Major League Baseball was wrought with segregation, threats, and hatred. On August 29th, 1945, Branch Rickey summoned Robinson to his office in Brooklyn. Rickey questioned Robinson throughout the entire meeting, and Robinson went onto to say, “Mr. Rickey do you want a ballplayer whose afraid to fight back?” Rickey Responded,