Remembering the legacy of the great Jackie Robinson

When Jackie Robinson stepped out onto that ball field on April 15, 1947, it would prove to be the beginning of major change in America. Back then everyone and everything was segregated. From water coolers to schools, theaters, restaurants and even newspapers, things were either for whites or for “colored” people. It was an ugly, evil blight that crossed the nation. But on that spring day in ’47 the All-American game of baseball would spell the doom of segregation when a black man stepped up to the plate wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. I like the fact that my favorite sport would be the herald of such great change.

Award-winning director Ken Burns played his latest documentary about this pioneer in the civil rights movement this week on PBS. “Jackie Robinson” was a show I eagerly devoured, watching this legend come to life at first in black and white and later in color. There was amazing footage of him hitting the ball, running the bases, even stealing home in a rush of arms and legs to slide into the dust and called safe at the plate. Yet he endured so much abuse by fans and players in the early years of his career. He would win many over by his singular ability to play baseball in spite of the hatred directed toward him. And that man could make the game really sing.

Later he would begin to stand up to the bigotry of segregation both on and off the field in the later years of his career, which was something he couldn’t do before during those early days. He was as driven to right those wrongs as he was dedicated the sport he loved. He was not alone; his wife Rachel, a beautiful woman of intelligence and calm, was his anchor through those seas of discontent. She was interviewed a lot in the Burns film, and you could see the love in her eyes as recounted events in their lives.

Robinson played so well, he opened the door for more people of color to join the ranks of baseball history — and in some cases go on into legend. Players such as Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks and Willie Mays were just a few who would follow Robinson’s lead. The brittle armor of segregation was falling away into dust with each new player that signed on. The ground broken would spread well beyond the ballparks and into the cities across the nation. All it took was one man to take his position at first base that spring day in April on Ebbets Field to set that ball rolling.

This was well before Rosa Parks, before the Rev. Martin Luther King would begin his works. Both were inspired by Robinson’s use of nonviolence as a viable tool to effect change — a tool that would work for well indeed during civil rights era to follow.

Jackie’s post baseball career would take him even further in the cause for equal rights during the late 1950s and 60s. The 60s would be the years of upheaval and great sacrifice for many involved. He worked with Dr. King on many occasions, and never stopped speaking out on civil rights in appearances on TV and radio. He even wrote a newspaper column and chaired Freedom Fund Drive for the NAACP in 1957.

He was the first black player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His uniform number, 42 was retired by all of Major League Baseball in 1997, and now only comes out every April 15 to celebrate “Jackie Robinson Day” in major league baseball fields all over America. Everybody playing the game that day sports the number 42 in honor of this great man — even the umpires. For one day, everyone gets to wear No. 42.

I wonder what he would say if he could come back and see how we honor his legacy. He has been gone now since October 27, 1972 felled by a heart attack at his home in North Stamford, Connecticut. His record was second to none. His message for equal rights still resounds in hearts and homes to this day. His courage was beyond compare.

As you can tell I’m quite a fan of Jackie Robinson Day. I can guarantee you I will watching my Seattle Mariners play ball as No. 42, rooting for them to beat the New York Yankees this Friday, April 15. There is another reason I’ll be smiling — well, just a tiny thing really. You see April 15 is also my birthday, my 55th in fact.

So play ball…and pass the cake!

Daniel D. Grota is a retired U.S. Army veteran with over 21 years in service. He is also a Tuesday morning co-host on KVRF 89.5 FM, Radio Free Palmer. Write to him at news@frontiersman.com.