Stephen Dunn - Getty Images
Don Newcombe and Matt Kemp before the game on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15, 2011) at Dodger Stadium.
Recently I noticed that True Blue LA has had a number of visitors via a search of the phrase "Why is [was] Jackie Robinson important?" in various internet search engines. Presumably these visitors are mostly young students researching an assignment for a school project relating to February being African-American History Month. After they took a wide-eyed gander at the frivolity we engage in here, I hope our visitors found the information they were seeking, as well as visiting the website for the Jackie Robinson Foundation, initiated by his widow, Rachel Robinson, a tremendous woman in her own right, and an embodiment of the Jackie Robinson quote in the headline above.
I am far from qualified to discuss the historical impact of Jackie Robinson, African-American history, and the state of race relations in the United States in 1947. (Nor is this an invitation to get political in the comments section. It is not.) To state it simply, 65 years ago, when baseball was segregated (as was significant portions of this country), yet truly the National Pastime, as popular then as the NFL is today, it must have taken tremendous amounts of courage to be the man to break the "color line" in major league baseball.
This year will mark the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut in the Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 15, 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the San Diego Padres in a Sunday day game, during which I assume major league baseball will, for the fourth consecutive year, continue the new tradition of having all the players wear the number 42, otherwise retired from all of Major League Baseball*. The Dodgers, as is their tradition, will honor Robinson before the game as well.
Consider coming out to Dodger Stadium for that game on what will hopefully be a beautiful spring afternoon in Los Angeles. Then, as well as now, are fine times to reflect on what life must have been like in those times for the men and women who faced formidable obstacles that might be difficult, for some, to imagine today, yet persevered in the face of those challenges with grace and dignity, like the Robinson family did.
As an aside, I'd like to note that in 1946, the NFL reintegrated after a period of unofficial, but de facto segregation, as a condition for the relocated Cleveland Rams to play their home games in the Coliseum. The first African-American player to sign (with the Los Angeles Rams) and reintegrate the NFL that year was Kenny Washington, the All-American backfield teammate of Robinson on the UCLA football team of the early 1940s, and a graduate of Los Angeles's Lincoln High School as well.
The field decoration at Dodger Stadium for Jackie Robinson Day five years ago.
*except for the grandfathered, and grandfather-aged, Mariano Rivera, the last active major-league wearing #42.
2 recs | 59 comments
There is also
a recent FanPost that may be of interest.
http://www.truebluela.com/2012/2/18/2808356/dodger-blogger-softball-tournament-pics
David Young - February 18, 2012
Nicely written
April 15th is my wedding anniversary so I don’t think I’ll ever catch a game that day :)
kinbote - February 18, 2012
Awesome post
I’ve been to every Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium since 2005. For me, it’s been my personal Opening Day.
I go for the history, and to be a part of something bigger than myself. At the stadium, my wife and I have even met some others who have celebrated that day including Don Newcombe, Sharon Robinson (Jackie’s daughter), and several of the past National Anthem singers including Chaka Khan, Jeffrey Osborne, and Eric Benet (my wife was very excited to get a picture with him).
JJ 24 - February 18, 2012
How's this line from NCAAB?
Oklahoma State: K. Page 40 Pts, 1 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl
kinbote - February 18, 2012
JOSHUA MACCIELLO WOULD IMPACT MANY LIVES
Tripon - February 18, 2012
December 2013
Dream scenario: Dodgers sign Kershaw, Lincecum and Votto to monster deals. Hey, stop looking at me funny.
silverwidow - February 18, 2012
We don’t need Lincecum.
kinbote - February 18, 2012
I like those names but I don’t want to get burned by another giant. I don’t like you as our GM Ned Colletti.
funkyjam - February 18, 2012 via mobile
I don't want lincecum for what he wants plus his walk rate has gone up a walk and a half the last 3 years
and steadily climbing.
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
December 2013
Nightmare scenario: The Caruso-Torre-Colletti Dodgers trade Matt Kemp to the Giants in a cost-cutting move for Ryan Vogelsong, Mike Fontenot, and perennial Giant prospect Gary Brown, after Colletti repeatedly publicly chastises Kemp for the team’s inability to overcome the 60 starts of >5.00 ERAs of Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang and the 1,000 PAs of sub-.650 OPS from Juan Uribe and Mark Ellis.
The Dude Abides - February 18, 2012
Or, OR!
Sign Hamels OR Greinke OR Cain (not starting this, any of them) and pass on Lincecumcovered.
Taylor Maricle - February 18, 2012
Little bit of a kid thing to say at the end, but I agree with the overall message of getting the first 3 (cain is my number 3 option of those guys).
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
what do you expect this guy thinks the thrawn trilogy is better then Dune!
:-p
nolander - February 18, 2012
Never read Dune
Never said it was better. But the Thrawn trilogy was epic.
I must have missed out on a discussion there after i left.
Taylor Maricle - February 18, 2012
Ehh, I feel like it summed up why i wanted to pass on him
Though it didn’t quite capture the fact that i don’t expect him to last very long.
Taylor Maricle - February 18, 2012
Stay classy, San Diego
Maddz - February 19, 2012 via iPhone app
Damn
The last ten seconds of the 4th quarter of the Clippers-Spurs game featured as much screwing the pooch as you will ever see by both teams in a close game.
The Dude Abides - February 18, 2012
Jackie left us too soon
I wish he’d been around to experience the avalanche of accolades he’s gotten over the past 25 years.
The Dude Abides - February 18, 2012
Nice post, man. I bet this does help out some of the young 'uns doing research.
One of the first books I remember actively checking out of my elementary school library was a biography of Jackie Robinson. I was already a hard core Dodger fan and wanted to learn more about one of the icons.
underdog - February 18, 2012
For those interested, who follow the Big West
the LBSU at Creighton game will be on ESPN2 and also ESPN3 online at 7,
and the UCSB at Utah State game will be on ESPN3 (online only) at 6.
Hope they both win!
underdog - February 18, 2012
Baseball's here!
Just watched a UCD v Utah college game. We lost 7-1, but it was baseball. With sunflower seeds in the stands and everything.
Taylor Maricle - February 18, 2012
alabama state stood no chance against UCI today
nolander - February 18, 2012
They were playing Southern University on MLBN today
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
oh thats right
well they beat them too. UCIs baseball website is a bit messed up right now
nolander - February 18, 2012
lol
I think Alabama State was Yesterday
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
They showed that Pride & Perseverance special today. I get kinda misty when they do the draft for the retired Negro League players.
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
Assassin's Creed 3 is out October 30th
http://www.nowgamer.com/features/1248110/assassins_creed_3_release_date_setting_plot_roundup.html
As far as video games go I cannot wait! I think I can enjoy a great baseball season first, though :)
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
they really need to take a good 3 year haitus after asscreed 3
its almost impossible for me to enjoy a series when they pump them out year after year with no real improvements to the core gameplay.
nolander - February 18, 2012
That's the last one of that specific series (unless they do some sort of spinoff)
This one is wrapping up the whole series. I disagree, as long as the plot still develops and is interesting, which it has been. There’s not a whole lot else they can do (as far as I can see) to improve the gameplay aspects of it, and I have no problem with what they have going right now. I will say that the the story for me is more important than the game play, so maybe that’s why I feel that way.
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
I do agree if there are future titles they should wait a couple years
I think a few game series should do that, but it would cost them too much money to do it.
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
Heyman loves him some MacDougal
link
silverwidow - February 18, 2012
Its amazing to me that macdougals k/9 isn't higher. He throws hard with a lot of movement doesn't he?
and yet he still has a k/9 under 7
nolander - February 18, 2012
Mac throws up a lot of cookies. Wait, that didn’t come out right. I mean he leaves shit up in the zone when he’s actually in the zone.
silverwidow - February 18, 2012
Jackie, to but it bluntly, is the freaking man. Amazing human being.
It has already been decided that my first child, boy or girl, will have the middle name of Jackie.
UCLADodger32 - February 18, 2012
awesoke
kinbote - February 18, 2012
Word
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
Great post, Dave!
Maybe one of these days, for funsies, I can write a paper or something on Jackie. :)
Maddz - February 18, 2012
Random question
anyone here speak/read German?
Maddz - February 18, 2012
Nein
mleadman - February 18, 2012
Nicht
iiidown - February 18, 2012
zwei Bier bitte,
Schadenfreude
Götterdämmerung
That’s pretty much it.
David Young - February 18, 2012
Oh,
Kraftwerk
Wir fahr’n fahr’n fahr’n auf der Autobahn
David Young - February 18, 2012
don’t ask
BaldBilly - February 19, 2012
games like tonight
are the reason the Clippers are still the Clippers.
Joey Joe - February 18, 2012
Yeah, sure, let’s judge them on one game.
David Young - February 18, 2012
Esp an OT loss.
David Young - February 18, 2012
this kind of game
Is where they miss Billups
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
Speaking of favorite actors of mine from the other day
Timothy Olyphant is definitely one of my favorite actors now, I love him on the show Justified. I’m watching Live Free Or Die Hard for the first time right now and it’s badass so far, I can’t wait to see how Olyphant’s character does in the movie.
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
Olyphantastic
Tommy Blackjack - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
PS
Live Free Or Die Hard is probably the second best of the series behind the first one. I think i’m going into a Die Hard Marathon binge now, just starting with the 4th one, haha.
Ivdown - February 18, 2012
incorrect
I liked it, but not better then 3, and probably not better then 2 either
nolander - February 18, 2012
i really want to see the uncut version of it actually
but for some reaosn its not on the blu ray release
nolander - February 18, 2012
The uncut one is better
Tommy Blackjack - February 19, 2012 via iPhone app
It seemed more like a new type of action movie rather than a die hard movie, but I think that’s what I liked about it, because I thought it was going to suck before I watched it. My favorite is the 2nd Die Hard, but I know the first one is better. I’d put the 2nd one on par with Live Free Or Die Hard, and the 3rd one last but just behind.
Ivdown - February 19, 2012
If you’re down with Olyphant get thee to deadwood ASAP. My favorite show ever.
hee came hee seop'd he choi'd - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
He was actually pretty good in Hitman, as well
Totally shaved head…and the movie also had Olga Kurylenko, which was a bonus.
The Dude Abides - February 19, 2012
He's in that show??
Ivdown - February 19, 2012
He’s listed first, as if the main character of Deadwood. He’s actually the second main character. But, yes. It’s kind of hard to miss him. He’s the first person you see.
berkowit28 - February 19, 2012
I think it was The Girl Next Door…he asked if the “juice was worth the squeeze”…
BaldBilly - February 19, 2012
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