You've your finest day ever on the job and I've mine.
Mine is the day Jackie Robinson got here to city.
It was June 1972 and I used to be overlaying the Dodgers for The Occasions and Robinson had arrived to have his quantity retired together with these of Sandy Koufax and Roy Campanella in ceremonies at Dodger Stadium. These have been the primary numbers the Dodgers had retired, in Brooklyn or Los Angeles, which made it a giant deal. So did the truth that Robinson had bothered to return.
Whereas Koufax and Campanella at all times will probably be revered Dodgers alumni, Robinson had nothing to do with the workforce after he left baseball. Following the 1956 season, the Dodgers traded him to the Giants and he abruptly retired. That was the start of an estrangement from the Dodgers, and from baseball, that lasted the remainder of his life.
He seldom appeared at any of the sport’s ceremonial occasions — a brief, gracious acceptance speech at his Corridor of Fame induction in 1962 was an exception — and he refused to attend old-timers’ video games so typically that groups stopped inviting him. And he nearly by no means got here to Dodger Stadium.
However Robinson succumbed to the pleas of his good friend and former teammate Don Newcombe, who labored within the workforce’s neighborhood relations division, and agreed to return. And right here is the unusual half. The Dodgers didn't hassle to name a information convention for Robinson, or for Koufax and Campanella, both. Nor did they point out that 1972 marked the twenty fifth anniversary of Robinson’s main league debut. They appeared to be treating a historic second as simply one other Cap Day.
Now, in fact, as Main League Baseball celebrates the seventy fifth anniversary of his first sport Friday, Jackie Robinson Day is without doubt one of the sport’s signature occasions. There are celebrations in ballparks nationwide, with tributes and proclamations hailing the braveness and tenacity Robinson displayed in breaking a racial barrier that had existed since organized baseball started. One factor lacking from these anniversary occasions is any point out of how these limitations got here to be constructed within the first place.
Nobody, in fact, expects right this moment’s baseball homeowners and executives to imagine guilt for the actions of those that got here earlier than them. However any trustworthy reckoning of Robinson’s legacy, of his overcome bigotry, should take note of how that bigotry was allowed to persist.
So the feel-good institutionalization of the annual Robinson tributes has led me to a conclusion that could be uncharitable, however right here it's. Baseball is fortunate that Robinson died on the younger age of 53 as a result of to him the self-satisfied celebrations of Jackie Robinson Day can be simply one other instance of white America’s patronizing indifference to the battle of Black America.
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I referred to as the Dodgers to ask if they might inform me easy methods to attain Robinson and Newcombe to ask why he thought he had agreed to take part within the number-retirement ceremony. Newcombe mentioned the dying two months earlier of Gil Hodges, the Dodgers’ beloved first baseman, two days in need of his forty eighth birthday had performed a job in Robinson’s choice.
At Hodges’ funeral, Robinson mentioned that he thought he can be the primary of what the creator Roger Kahn had referred to as the Boys of Summer time to die. Then Newcombe added, “He is aware of he’s been bitter about loads of issues and he doesn’t need individuals to recollect him that manner.”
Robinson regretted his estrangement from baseball and was attempting to make amends, Newcombe added. As for getting in contact with Robinson, the Dodgers mentioned he was staying downtown on the Biltmore Lodge. I may name him there.
The considered speaking to Robinson, who had at all times been a storybook determine to me, stirred feelings I had by no means skilled as a reporter when interviewing Michael Jordan, say, or Muhammad Ali. My anxiousness elevated after I referred to as the resort, informed the operator I wish to converse to Robinson and, moments later, discovered myself doing so. What? Anyone can simply name in off the road and speak to Jackie Robinson?
Flustered, I launched myself and requested if it could be doable to fulfill with him … every time he had a couple of minutes … when he was not too busy.
“Come on over now,” he mentioned.
I had interviewed main sports activities figures lots of of instances, I informed myself as I walked the quick distance from the outdated Occasions constructing downtown to the resort. It was going to be simple. However after knocking on the door and being informed to return in, I used to be thrown off stride once more.
The room was fully darkish and it took a second for my eyes to regulate to see how small it was. No suite for Jackie Robinson? No one there to take care of him, to see to his consolation?
“The sunshine hurts my eyes,” Robinson defined, and he turned on a bedside lamp. What I noticed was an outdated man in his underwear mendacity underneath the covers in the midst of the afternoon. He had been sleeping, I noticed, and I had woken him up. Dammit!
Robinson’s well being was a catastrophe by then. He had had a coronary heart assault, suffered from diabetes and was nearly blind. He may not drive a automotive or play golf — the racetrack was his final refuge — and he had hassle strolling with out assist. Seeing him like this, I used to be struck with an nearly insufferable disappointment.
In his prime, Robinson may need been the best all-around athlete on this planet. He had been an impressive operating again at UCLA — the few grainy clips out there on YouTube are wonderful — and had gained the NCAA lengthy soar championship. He appeared sure to compete within the 1940 Summer time Olympics, scheduled for Tokyo, earlier than they have been canceled throughout the army buildup to World Struggle II.
And, Harley Tinkham, a veteran Occasions sportswriter we referred to as Ace as a result of he knew every little thing, as soon as informed me that Robinson’s finest sport was basketball, which he had additionally performed in school.
However now, as I seemed on the sick outdated man in mattress, it was onerous to recollect he was solely 53.
As we started to speak, although, it grew to become clear that whereas Robinson’s physique might have betrayed him, neither his thoughts nor his passions had dimmed.
I leaned into the sunshine coming from the lamp so I may see my pocket book and requested an apparent first query: How did he really feel about having his quantity retired? Any expectation of an anodyne reply — it was an ideal honor, it will be good to see outdated pals — disappeared instantly. Was I there to speak about trivial issues, his reply indicated, or did I wish to know what was on his thoughts? And he started to speak.
“Baseball and Jackie Robinson haven’t had a lot to say to one another,” he mentioned, and now that he had come to Los Angeles he had used the event to inform Dodgers President Peter O’Malley about what was troubling him: The shortage of Black managers within the sport. (Frank Robinson wouldn't break that barrier for three extra years; Dave Roberts wouldn't accomplish that for the Dodgers for 44 extra years.)
“I informed Peter I used to be disturbed on the manner baseball treats its Black gamers after their taking part in days are by,” he mentioned. “It’s onerous to have a look at a sport which Black athletes have nearly saved and when a managerial job opens they provide it to a man who’s failed in different areas as a result of he’s white.”
O’Malley had appeared involved, Robinson mentioned, and he was grateful for that, however it was not sufficient. Fascinated with this later, I noticed that this was an important reality about understanding Robinson. Nothing would ever be sufficient. He would by no means cease preventing injustice the place he noticed it. He would by no means permit himself to slide right into a glad baseball dotage. Even when the sport needed to honor him, he would make it squirm.
As for the retirement of his quantity, “I couldn’t care much less if somebody is on the market sporting 42,” he mentioned. “It's an honor, however I get extra of a thrill realizing there are individuals in baseball who consider in development based mostly on capacity. I’m extra involved about what I take into consideration myself than what different individuals suppose.”
He spoke of his estrangement from the sport, of how, due to his refusal to indulge within the celebrations it provided him, he was seen in some quarters as an ingrate. He didn’t care.
“I believe should you look again at why individuals consider me the best way they do,” he mentioned, “it’s as a result of white America doesn’t like a Black man who stands up for what he believes. I don’t really feel baseball owes me a factor and I don’t owe baseball a factor. I'm glad I haven’t needed to go to baseball on my knees.”
A reconciliation with the Dodgers was out of the query, he mentioned. The nice irony of Robinson’s relationship with the Dodgers is that whereas he was the embodiment of the workforce’s courageous stand that built-in baseball, which has been referred to as the best second within the sport’s historical past, he was additionally trapped between the person who had taken that stand on his behalf and the one who changed him.
Robinson had revered Dodgers proprietor Department Rickey, however when Walter O’Malley took management of the workforce in 1950, O’Malley believed Rickey had cheated him out of $50,000 within the transaction. (“That was some huge cash in these days,” Peter O’Malley informed me.)
“Anyone who had something to do with Mr. Rickey was a nasty man to Walter O’Malley,” Robinson mentioned. “When Mr. Rickey left the membership, there have been actual issues between me and Mr. O’Malley.”
We had talked for an hour and it was time to go, to let him flip off the lamp and sleep. However immediately I used to be shocked to listen to myself asking a query I had by no means requested a sports activities determine earlier than. Had he ever thought-about his place in historical past? His reply indicated that he had.
“I truthfully consider that baseball did set the stage for a lot of issues which can be taking place right this moment and I’m proud to have performed a component in it.” Robinson mentioned. “However I’m not subservient to it.”
My thoughts was racing as I walked again to the workplace, went by my notes and started to put in writing. That is good things, I assumed, utilizing the common sportswriters’ shorthand for compelling materials. A day or two later, the story was performed throughout the highest of the Sunday Sports activities part, and I permitted myself a second of satisfaction whereas questioning if Robinson may see it. I'd quickly discover out.
Every week or so later, I used to be going by my mail within the workplace after I was startled to discover a letter from Robinson. It was quick and had a couple of form phrases for what I had written, however then received straight to the purpose. Newcombe had been attempting to hawk that crap about him regretting his estrangement from the Dodgers and baseball for years and I used to be to not consider a phrase of it. He regretted nothing, he wrote, nothing in any respect.
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4 months later, on Oct. 15, earlier than the second sport of the World Sequence in Cincinnati, baseball held its solely official observance of the twenty fifth anniversary of Robinson’s major-league debut. It was a modest affair with just a few individuals on the sector participating. Pink Barber, who had chronicled Robinson’s profession because the Dodgers’ broadcaster, was the grasp of ceremonies and he launched Robinson’s household, his former teammates Pee Wee Reese and Joe Black, baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Peter O’Malley and some others.
Robinson, wanting sharp in a lightweight summer time go well with, appeared to be truthfully touched by the tribute and having fun with himself. And when it was his flip to talk, he provided a couple of pleasantries about what an exhilarating afternoon it was and the way he wished Department Rickey may have been there. After which, simply when it appeared he may converse softly for as soon as, he dropped the hammer.
“I’m extraordinarily proud and happy to be right here this afternoon,” he mentioned. “However I have to admit I’m going to be tremendously extra happy and extra proud after I take a look at that third-base teaching line sooner or later and see a Black face managing in baseball.”
There was a smile on his face as he made what was to be his ultimate public utterance, one which he had made sure contained one final slap in baseball’s face.
He died 9 days later at his residence in Stamford, Conn., leaving baseball free to have a good time his life with out the inconvenience of getting him round to object. To remind the sport, and all of us, of the true baseball legacy of Jackie Robinson.
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