The film begins with Robinson as a boy. He is given a worn-out baseball glove by a stranger impressed by his fielding skills. As a young man, he becomes a multi-sport star at University of California, Los Angeles, but as he nears graduation, he worries about his future. His older brother Mack Robinson (athlete) was also an outstanding college athlete and graduate, but the only job he could get was that of a lowly Street sweeper.