Branch Rickey and the Brooklyn Dodgers
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Jackie Robinson’s Negro Leagues career ended in dramatic fashion. The Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager Branch Rickey had been showing interest in the young shortstop for quite a while. In a meeting that happened on August 28th, 1945, Jackie met with Branch Rickey in his office. The meeting, which was fairly straightforward, lasted 3 hours. Rickey wanted Jackie Robinson to be the first African American player to ever play in Major League Baseball. This, however, would not come without a catch. Branch Rickey knew about Robinson’s temper, and therefore had to make Jackie promise that he wouldn’t fight back to racial comments and jeers. Robinson asked, “Are you looking for a Negro who’s afraid to fight back?” Rickey responded that he was looking for a Negro ballplayer that had “enough guts not to fight back.” This was one of the most influential conversations of the meeting because it led to Robinson’s agreement to ignore racial antagonism. Branch Rickey signed Robinson to a $600 a month contract.
Robinson’s time in organized baseball began when he reported to Spring Training in Daytona, Florida for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ Triple-A minor league affiliate. The Royals all-white team was new for Jackie, as he was used to playing unorganized, all-black baseball. At first, the manager of the Montreal Royals, Clay Hopper, refused to manage Jackie Robinson. But, when Branch Rickey told him that he would be fired if he didn’t manage Robinson, Hopper quickly agreed to be the skipper of the then 27 year old phenom. Robinson played his first game in integrated baseball on March 17th, 1946 and played out of position, playing first base (where he would play his rookie season in the big leagues). His first season in professional baseball would be a strong one, as he lead the International League in batting average and fielding percentage, .349 and .985 respectively. Robinson played well regardless of the racial discrimination he faced, mainly on the road.
“Dodgers Purchase Robinson, First Negro in Modern Major League Baseball” is what the newspaper headlines of the New York Times read just days before the 1947 season. Jackie Robinson would be the first African American to ever play Major League Baseball. Talking about being called up to the Dodgers, Robinson said this in the newspaper article: “I was thrilled and it’s what I’ve been waiting for.” Jackie Robinson played his first Major League game on April 15th, 1947 at Ebbets Field in front of 26,623 spectators. Over 14,000 of these spectators were African Americans who came to see Jackie break the color barrier. Robinson went hitless in his Major League debut in a 5-3 win for the Dodgers, but what was more important at this point was that Jackie Robinson was the first player to ever break the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
Robinson’s time in organized baseball began when he reported to Spring Training in Daytona, Florida for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ Triple-A minor league affiliate. The Royals all-white team was new for Jackie, as he was used to playing unorganized, all-black baseball. At first, the manager of the Montreal Royals, Clay Hopper, refused to manage Jackie Robinson. But, when Branch Rickey told him that he would be fired if he didn’t manage Robinson, Hopper quickly agreed to be the skipper of the then 27 year old phenom. Robinson played his first game in integrated baseball on March 17th, 1946 and played out of position, playing first base (where he would play his rookie season in the big leagues). His first season in professional baseball would be a strong one, as he lead the International League in batting average and fielding percentage, .349 and .985 respectively. Robinson played well regardless of the racial discrimination he faced, mainly on the road.
“Dodgers Purchase Robinson, First Negro in Modern Major League Baseball” is what the newspaper headlines of the New York Times read just days before the 1947 season. Jackie Robinson would be the first African American to ever play Major League Baseball. Talking about being called up to the Dodgers, Robinson said this in the newspaper article: “I was thrilled and it’s what I’ve been waiting for.” Jackie Robinson played his first Major League game on April 15th, 1947 at Ebbets Field in front of 26,623 spectators. Over 14,000 of these spectators were African Americans who came to see Jackie break the color barrier. Robinson went hitless in his Major League debut in a 5-3 win for the Dodgers, but what was more important at this point was that Jackie Robinson was the first player to ever break the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
Jackie Robinson’s rookie year wasn’t the rookie year that you’d see today. He faced offensive racial comments and threats from the typical whites of that time. All of these things didn’t just come from off the diamond. Robinson faced racial discrimination on the baseball diamond as well. Jackie put up with racist criticism from his Dodgers teammates, but the worst by far was from the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager Ben Chapman. Chapman, who grew up in the south, highly opposed integration. When the Dodgers faced the Phillies, Ben Chapman would yell at Jackie Robinson repetitively. Chapman would call Jackie a “nigger” from the dugout, and would tell him to “go back to the cotton fields.” Branch Rickey said that Ben Chapman was the man who really united the Dodgers as a team with all of his unconscionable abuse to Jackie Robinson. Pee Wee Reese was Jackie’s main shoulder to lean on because of the way he put Robinson under his wing and protected him from an overwhelming amount of discrimination.
Despite the abuse and discrimination Jackie Robinson put up with his rookie year, he went on to have one of the most historic rookie years in Major League Baseball history. Although Robinson played out of position at first base in 1947 (his primary position was second base, but due to Eddie Stanky playing second and Pee Wee Reese playing shortstop, Jackie was forced to play first), he still had 175 hits, 12 homeruns, 48 runs batted in and 74 walks. He had a .297 batting average and a .427 slugging percentage as well. Jackie’s success didn’t stop there. He went on to be a Hall of Fame caliber player in 10 seasons. In a total of 1,382 games, Robinson had 1,518 career hits and a career batting average of .311. When Jackie Robinson heard that Branch Rickey would be leaving the Brooklyn Dodgers organization to go to Pittsburgh, he wrote a letter to Branch expressing his gratitude during his time in Brooklyn. In the letter, Robinson requested to be let go from the Dodgers because of Rickey’s departure. He said, “I hope to end my playing in Brooklyn as it means so very much but if I have to go any place I hope it can be with you.” Jackie led the Dodgers to 6 National League pennants and one World Series championship.
Retiring after the 1956 season, Robinson did more than have an amazing baseball career. He broke the color barrier and proved that Negro baseball players were a great addition to Major League Baseball, whether people liked it or not. Jackie paved the way for other African American baseball legends (see Impact on Sports and Legacy Left on Baseball for more on this) and did everything he could to bring integration into baseball.
Retiring after the 1956 season, Robinson did more than have an amazing baseball career. He broke the color barrier and proved that Negro baseball players were a great addition to Major League Baseball, whether people liked it or not. Jackie paved the way for other African American baseball legends (see Impact on Sports and Legacy Left on Baseball for more on this) and did everything he could to bring integration into baseball.
"He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious."
-Yogi Berra