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Why Jackie Robinson Is Important

Jackie_robinson_medium
via i47.photobucket.com

Rickey: "I know you're a good ballplayer. What I don't know is whether you have the guts."

Robinson: "Mr. Rickey, are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?"

Rickey, exploding: "Robinson, I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back."

-Larry Schwartz, recounting the fateful meeting of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey for ESPN

Today is the 62nd anniversary of one of the greatest days in baseball history.  On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson donned number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers for the first time, making him the first black Major League player in the twentieth century.

Over his ten year career, Robinson was a great player.  He wielded a booming bat, was a terror on the basepaths, and played outstanding defense all over the field.  But his importance stretches far beyond what he did between the foul poles.

I can't imagine all the insults and venom hurled Jackie Robinson's way in his first few years.  He showed exemplary courage in biting his tongue, as he promised Branch Rickey, even as opposing players and fans alike called him some of the most hate-filled names in the book.  Robinson endured countless threats, and was on the receiving end of many an overly agressive slide.

Robinson wasn't alone of course in his fight.  Larry Doby and other players soon followed him into the big leagues, and Jackie's wife Rachel had to endure just as much as Jackie.  I hope Mrs. Robinson is at Dodger Stadium tonight, as the presence of such an amazing woman would lift the spirit of the game.

As a Dodger fan, I am tremendously proud that my favorite team was the one Jackie Robinson played for.  So, as you watch tonight's Dodger game and see every player wearing Jackie's number 42, take a moment and give thanks for all his heroics, on and off the field.

0 recs  |  Comment 25 comments |

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Favorite player but Rachel Robinson has a place in my heart as favorite wife of a ballplayer.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Apr 15, 2009 1:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Favorite wives of athletes

1) Rachel Robinson
2) Mrs. Jose Lima :)
….
4698) Anna Benson
4699) Mrs. Glen Rice

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jackie Robinson tribute, Giants in town, Trojan’s spring football & the economy on the rebound. All good today.

by Craig88USC on Apr 15, 2009 1:29 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Dow is over 8000

Good news considering we were in the 6000’s not too long ago.

by silverwidow on Apr 15, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another Cool Jackie Feat

How many people can say they starred as themselves in a biographical movie of their own life, as Robinson did in The Jackie Robinson Story.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 1:31 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Interesting Jackie Fact

Robinson is the only player in Dodger history with more than 100 games played at each of 1B, 2B, 3B, and OF.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bill James wrote about Jackie's defense

In his historical abstract and how (based on whatever defensive ratings there were using when that book was written) Robinson was superior fielder at every position he played.

by bhsportsguy on Apr 15, 2009 1:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

What I loved about the abstract was finding out that players I loved to read about or watch were as good as I thought they were using the latest metrics.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Apr 15, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

On Jackie Robinson Day name the two other pitchers who were signed along with Jackie Robinson to play with him in Montreal.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Apr 15, 2009 2:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

no

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Apr 15, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm always reminded on this day of a quote from Bob Costas

“Were there better baseball players than Jackie Robinson? Probably. Were there more important baseball players than Jackie Robinson? Who?”

When ESPN did their 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century, Costas voted for Jackie Robinson.

by bruinbabe2000 on Apr 15, 2009 2:52 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Great quote – hell of running back for UCLA. Shame his brother didn’t get more attention in this town.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Apr 15, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jackie's retired number

I think at Dodger Stadium Jackie’s #42 shouldn’t be a different color — blue — than the other retired numbers. Let other teams, who piggybacked the Dodgers’ original idea, make a distinction between their players and Jackie.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 3:28 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Odd day for Rich Harden

3 innings, 92 pitches, 8 strikeouts, 0 groundouts / 0 flyouts

The other out was on the bases (Iannetta was thrown out at 3B on a run-scoring hit). 5 runs and 4 walks allowed too.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 3:54 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not to spoil the mood or anything...

…but am I the only person that thinks that the Mets attempts at laying claim to Jackie Robinson’s history is a bit disingenuous? Especially when they weren’t even in existence in 1947? I understand the argument that Jackie played in New York and his breaking the color barrier occurred there, but still, if any team has the right to claim and celebrate his legacy about spreading equality, it’s the Dodgers.

Nothing against Jackie, but the Dodgers were just as instrumental in breaking the color barrier as he was. Some team had to be willing take the chance of not only scouting, signing, dressing up and putting a black man in the starting lineup, but also choosing the right one to break the color, and supporting him whether he succeeded or failed.

 As a Dodger fan, I’m proud that my team was the one to break it and it reaffirms my allegiance to this organization. But it always breaks my heart when the celebration and dedications, such as the new rotunda at Citi Field, revolves around the Mets, with nary a word about the Dodgers, simply because the Mets are the sole New York, National League team. It’s almost as if Mitsubishi were to lay claim to building the first Model-T simply because one of it’s factories is closest to the original site that no longer existed with nary a word about Henry Ford.

I’m sorry if this is inappropriate, but it’s something that’s been nagging at me, especially on this date for years and I just had to get it off my chest.

by Nofatmike on Apr 15, 2009 4:38 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It's a double edged sword

I’m happy that Jackie is so honored in such a way, but I’m with you in thinking what the hell are the Mets doing trying to ride our coattails?

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

For the second straight year ESPN will feature a Mets game on Jackie Robinson Day. This year it is because they have opened up that new Rotunda and everything and Mrs. Robinson is going to be in attendence there for that.

 Of course, I believe that any ceremony that Mrs. Robinson attends is the main ceremony to honor Jackie.

But why can’t ESPN put on a double header? The Mets could have played at 7 eastern with the Dodgers following right after. It is insane that a Dodger game, especially one against the Giants, isn’t nationally televised.

And Fred Wilpon is probably the only man who can get fans or former fans of all three NL NY teams to be pissed at him, Dodger fans who are mad at him for trying to soak up all of Brooklyn Dodger history, Met fans who feel that their new park isn’t enough of a tribute to the numerous accomplishments the Mets have in their own right, and Giant fans who basically get nothing than the color of the new seats and outfield walls to represent their history in New York

by EdfromAZ on Apr 15, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hank Aaron on ESPN

about Jackie and Rachel Robinson:

If he didn’t have her, you know, I don’t know all the other things would have went astray. Because he had to have someone at nighttime to go home and lay his head on, you know, and Rachel was the right woman. And…she was the right woman. It couldn’t have been nobody else, but Rachel Robinson.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 4:55 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Even the umpires

are wearing #42 tonight.

by Eric Stephen on Apr 15, 2009 5:02 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 55 Martin $5,050,000
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SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
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RHP 73 Link  
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OF 62 Robinson  

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