Jackie Robinson’s
Legacy 70 Years Later
Part 4—Brooklyn
While Branch Rickey’s plan to
integrate the Brooklyn Dodgers was going according to plan, there were some
members of the club who resented Robinson’s presence on the club at the
beginning of the 1947 season. Some of the Dodgers insinuated that they would rather
sit on the bench than share the field with a black man. The Brooklyn management
quickly squashed the mutiny. Manager Leo Durocher called a meeting and told the
team, “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a
(censored) zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What’s
more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I
will see that you are traded.”
When threats to strike by the
St. Louis Cardinals were leaked to the press, Baseball Commissioner Happy
Chandler immediately made it clear that “I do not care if half the League
strikes. Those who do it will encounter
quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the
National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one
citizen has as much right to play as another."
The fuels of racial hatred were
still ignited, however, even though Robinson made his debut in the Major
Leagues on April 15, 1947. He was often the target of verbal abuse and was he
was physically attacked as well. Some players would often aim for his legs and
ankles when running to first base, hoping to inflict injury to the Dodger first
baseman.
While it would be too time
consuming to list all of Robinson’s achievements during his 10-year MLB career,
it is important to note that he was the winner of the 1947 Rookie of the Year
Award. That is, despite all the physical and verbal abuse hurled at him during
his first season, he remained calm and determined to play to his best abilities
and succeeded in proving that black ballplayers could indeed compete in the
Majors.
Because of Robinson’s success,
more black players entered the two Leagues, Larry Doby and Satchel Paige among
the first to join Jackie.
And manager Durocher’s claim
that he would make the Dodgers’ players rich came true. In Jackie’s ten years
with Brooklyn, the Dodgers won the National League pennant six times and
managed to win the World Series in 1955.
His playing career came to an
end following the 1956 season. The Dodgers traded him to the New York Giants
after the season but he would never play baseball again. At the age of 37, the
years of absorbing the racial hatred, and the wear and tear on his body from
playing, caught up to him.
Even though he would receive
offers to coach or manage teams, Robinson rejected them all. He once told Hank
Aaron, “the game of baseball is great, but the greatest thing is what you do
after your career is over."
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