Edited by Gerald Boerner
Commentary:
Baseball has always been a game of heroes. There are pitching greats like Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, for example. (I am a Dodger and Angels fan, as you may notice!) There are also hitting greats, like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, for example. Some stand out for a single, spectacular performance, like Don Larson’s perfect game in the World Series. Then there are the lifetime achievement feats like the career home run record of Babe Ruth.
Most of these records are held by White Men. Why? Because the history of baseball was the domain of white men UNTIL 1947 when Jackie Robinson, a standout Black player broke through the “Color Line” that had kept the black players segregated into their own leagues. But that changed when Branch Richie of the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Robinson to a Major League Contract. Segregation in major league baseball was breached. This occurred in 1947, one year before President Truman ended segregation in the military services.
Jackie Robinson opened the doors not only for himself, but also for others of his race who now was given the opportunity to compete in the big leagues. Hank Aaron was able to break Babe Ruth’s career home run record. Bonds and others were able to set numerous records. We see well integrated teams throughout the major leagues thanks to the bold move of Branch Richie and self control and composure tf Jackie Robinson. Thank you both for enriching our national past time.
So let’s get on with today’s exploration of the integration of major league baseball… GLB
These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved[ 4095 Words ]
Quotations Related to JACKIE ROBINSON:
“Above anything else, I hate to lose.”
— Jackie Robinson
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
— Jackie Robinson
“There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”
— Jackie Robinson