Jackie Robinson to Appear in Marysville on Wednesday -- November 28, 2023

Redding Record-Searchlight, 01-November-1923

Former Negro League stars Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella visited Marysville, California with a Negro National League All-Star team. They played a team put together from the Sacramento Valley League's Yuba City Bears and Marysville Giants. 

Jackie Robinson 50 Years -- October 24, 2022

www.listal.com

I find it hard to believe that Jackie Robinson died 50 years ago today, on 24-October-1972.  He starred 

in many sports at UCLA.  He received a commission in the Army during World War Two.  Refusing to move to the back of the bus, he faced a court-martial for insubordination.  He was acquitted and spent the rest of his service coaching Army athletics.

After the war, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro American League.  Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed him to play for the Montreal Royals in 1946.  Rickey had been looking for a player to break the baseball color line, which had been in effect since the late Nineteenth Century.  Robinson agreed to turn the other cheek when racists on and off the field taunted him. In 1947, Robinson came out of spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

www.listal.com

In 1950, Robinson played himself in The Jackie Robinson Story.  Ruby Dee played his wife Rachel.
I remember a 1990 television movie called The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.  I couldn't find any photos.  Andre Braugher played Robinson.

www.listal.com

In 2013, Chadwick Boseman played Robinson in 42.  Ruby Dee played his mother.

Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Line 75 Years -- April 15, 2022

Minneapolis Star, 14-April-1947

75 years ago today, Jackie Robinson played his first major league game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color bar that had excluded African-Americans from organized baseball since the late Nineteenth Century. He went 0 for 3, but no one cared that day. The next day he scored the winning run in a game against the Boston Braves. 

Jackson Advocate, 26-April-1947

Stan Musial 100 -- November 21, 2020

 

listal.com

Stan the Man Musial, the greatest Cardinal player, was born 100 years ago today, on 21-November-1920. I don't remember him playing, but I remember people saying what a nice guy and a wonderful hitter he was. Willie Mays said Musial was always a gentleman "who understood the race thing" and took care of him at the All Star Game. Brooklyn fans, who hated everyone, gave him his nickname, and appreciated the way he accepted Jackie Robinson and integration.

He served in the Navy at the end of World War II.

I have never read anything bad about him.

Jackie Robinson 100 -- January 31, 2019

www.listal.com

Jackie Robinson would have been 100 years old today.  He starred in many sports at UCLA.  He received a commission in the Army during World War Two.  Refusing to move to the back of the bus, he faced a court-martial for insubordination.  He was acquitted and spent the rest of his service coaching Army athletics.

After the war, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro American League.  Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed him to play for the Montreal Royals in 1946.  Rickey had been looking for a player to break the baseball color line, which had been in effect since the late Nineteenth Century.  Robinson agreed to turn the other cheek when racists on and off the field taunted him. In 1947, Robinson came out of spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

www.listal.com

In 1950,. Robinson played himself in The Jackie Robinson Story.  Ruby Dee played his wife Rachel.
I remember a 1990 television movie called The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.  I couldn't find any photos.  Andre Braugher played Robinson.

www.listal.com

In 2013, Chadwick Boseman played Robinson in 42.  Ruby Dee played his mother.

Don Zimmer, RIP -- June 7, 2014

Everyone in baseball, players, coaches, executives and fans, was sad to learn of the passing of Don Zimmer.  He spent more than 65 years in professional baseball, and never had a job in another field.  He nearly died in 1953 when he got beaned during a minor league game, but he went on to have a full career and a full life with metal screws in his skull. 

Zim was a teammate of Jackie Robinson and played for Casey Stengel as an Original Met.  He coached for the Giants in 1987 under Roger Craig, another Original Met.  They won the National League West but lost the league championship to the Cardinals.  I still think the Giants would have done better than the Cardinals did against the Twins in the World Series.  The Giants defeated his Cubs for the 1989 pennant. 

I was impressed by the number of young players who spoke highly of him. 

In other news, California Chrome tied for fourth in the Belmont Stakes, so he did not win the Triple Crown.  After the race, one of his owners went ballistic on network television.  He felt that horses should be required to run in all three races.