In 1945, Branch Rickey felt the time was right to hire African American baseball players.
All he needed was the right man. Scouts told him about Jackie Robinson’s skills. So the two men met. Rickey told him all the insults he’d hear if he tried to play major league baseball. Then he asked if Robinson could listen to this without losing his temper. Robinson replied, “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 Robinson said he could be that ballplayer.
