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In 1945, Branch Rickey felt the time was right to hire African American baseball players, but he needed the right man.
Scouts told him about Jackie Robinson. So Rickey met with Robinson. He told him all the threats and insults he would hear. Then he asked if Robinson could listen to all that without losing his temper. Robinson asked, “Mr. Rickey, are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?” Rickey answered, “Robinson, I’m looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back.” Jackie said he could be that ballplayer.
▲ He married Rachel Isum on February 10, 1946. Her love and support gave him strength as he faced the problems ahead.
◀ In 1946, Jackie Robinson went to the Florida spring training camp of the Montreal Royals. They were one of the Dodgers’ minor league teams. Training in the South was rough. Jackie’s teammates stayed at a fancy whites-only hotel. The Robinsons had to stay with an African American family. There were laws that said whites and African Americans couldn’t play ball in public parks together. So some of the Royals’ games were called off. However, when the Royals played their first home game in Montreal, Canada, fans gave Jackie Robinson a warm welcome. That year, he led the Royals to the minor league world championship.
In 1947, Robinson moved up to the Brooklyn Dodgers as number 42. He soon showed that he was a big help to the team. Most Brooklyn fans welcomed him. However, some away games were nasty. At one game, the Philadelphia Phillies team yelled nonstop insults at Robinson. Dodgers teammate Eddie Stanky, who had already told Robinson, “I don’t like you,” defended him. “Listen, you yellow-bellied cowards,” he shouted at the Phillies. “Why don’t you yell at somebody who can answer back?” By the end of 1947, the Dodgers had won the National League pennant, and Jackie had been named Rookie of the Year. ▶
◀ Most of Robinson’s teammates looked up to his skills and character, but some fans didn’t. Here are two of the many pieces of hate mail that he received.
▲ Pee Wee Reese was from Kentucky. He became a close friend of Jackie’s. At one game, fans yelled at Reese, asking why a man from the South was playing ball with a black man. Reese didn’t reply. Instead, he walked over and leaned his arm on Robinson’s shoulder to show his support. Here, the two friends warm up before a game.
◀ After Robinson’s first two years as a Dodger, Branch Rickey told Jackie that they had succeeded. As a result, Jackie could do or say anything he wanted. From then on, he did speak his mind. Some people hated this, but most respected his honesty.
▲ Branch Rickey never wanted Robinson (far left) to be the Dodgers’ only African American player. He signed pitcher Dan Bankhead in 1947. Soon, Don Newcombe (right) and Roy Campanella (center) were playing for the Dodgers.
A Jackie Robinson baseball card can sell for thousands of dollars today.
◀ Jackie and Rachel Robinson had three children. Pictured, from left, are Sharon (born in 1950), David (born in 1952), and Jackie Junior (born in 1946). Jackie was a dedicated dad, who always enjoyed the time he could spend with his children.
