Opening Day: The Story Of Jackie Robinson's First Season, Eig - B+

             "Segregation suffused the nation's culture, and yet profound changes were rippling across the country." In the spring of 1947, black Americans were denied the vote in the South, did not attend the same schools as whites, served in colored only units in the military, and were proscribed from attending the same parks, beaches, playgrounds, department stores, night clubs, swimming pools, theaters, rest rooms, barber shops etc. as white people. Robinson was not the best Black ballplayer and at twenty-eight, he was a bit old to be a rookie. But he was tenacious and loved a fight. Dodger's president and part-owner, Branch Rickey, signed him to the leagues minimum of $5,000 and told him he wanted someone "with guts enough not to fight back." 

            He had grown up in southern California in a fatherless home and developed a rage against injustice and racism. He played five sports at UCLA, excelling in basketball and football. He was a lieutenant in the army during the war and began playing for the Kansas City Monarchs in the summer of 1945 for a $400 per month paycheck. Later that summer, he met with Rickey, who secretly was planning on integrating the majors. In 1946, he batted .349, stole 40 bases and scored 113 runs for the Montreal Royals. During spring training the next year,  manger Leo Durocher told the southerners they could wipe their asses with their petition about not playing with a Negro. On April 15, 1947, Jack Roosevelt Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He scored the winning run. Two days later, he hit his first home run at the Polo Grounds.

        After his initial flourish, Robinson struggled at the plate. There was extensive speculation that he would be benched. On May 9th, the Dodgers left for their first game outside of New York. In Philadelphia, their hotel refused them access because of the "nigra" and the team went directly to the stadium. The Dodger's traveling secretary found Jackie a room at a separate hotel and the rest of the team went to the Franklin later. Branch Rickey, ever the shrewd observer of the league, decided to publish some of the hate mail Jackie had been receiving. He put the naysayers in a defensive position and galvanized support for Robinson. Throughout the eight game road trip, thousands of Black fans came out to see Jackie. His aggressiveness on the base path was unnerving the opponents and the Dodgers were beginning to be more accepting of him as a teammate. The Dodgers continued to improve and, by the end of August had a ten game lead on the Cardinals. The NY baseball world was getting ready for another subway series.

      Brooklyn dropped the first two in the Bronx and won three and four at Ebbets. They lost the fifth and won the sixth. Game seven was at the Stadium. It was a 5-2 victory for the Yanks. Afterwards, in the Dodger locker room, each member of the team shook Jackie's hand and congratulated him for a fine season. Jackie's best  season would be two years later, when he won the MVP. By 1955, he was not an everyday player, but stole home in the first game of the series which the Brooklyn Dodgers finally won against the Yankees. He retired after the 1956 season and five years later, was elected to Cooperstown. He died in 1972. His number 42 has been retired by every team in the majors. April 15th is celebrated throughout the league as Jackie Robinson Day. "Given a chance to change the world, he never hesitated. He played hard and won." Thanks to my brother for the recommendation.