Jackie Robinson

Kansas City Monarchs, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955 World Series champions, Baseball Hall of Fame, Negro leagues

 

 

“I don’t care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fucking zebra. I’m the manager of this team and I say he plays.”

-Brooklyn Dodgers Manager, Leo Durocher

“Give me five players like Jackie Robinson, and a pitcher,” said pro-baseball manager Chuck Dressen, “and I will beat any nine-man team in baseball.” One of the most revolutionary figures in baseball’s history, Jackie Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945 and then shattered racial confines when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946.  Indubitably, when Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey saw Jackie play with the Monarchs, he staked his claim.  The following year, Jackie left the Monarchs. He spent a year on Brooklyn’s farm team before becoming the first black man to play ball with “the real” white major-leaguers. Robinson led the Dodgers to victory in the 1955 World Series and became the first black man inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His career earned Robinson his own holiday–April 15th honors this groundbreaking player.