Authors: Aaron Rosenberg
42 (16 page)
But while white players only worried about playing ball, Jackie had other things on his mind.
People like Philadelphia coach Ben Chapman didn't think a black man should be playing in the big leagues.
Rickey didn't want Jackie to fight his critics.
He wanted Jackie to prove them wrong by playing good ball.
Rickey and Rachel both believed in Jackie.
Soon critics like Ben Chapman were forced to acknowledge his talent, too.
And eventually many of Jackie's fellow Dodgers came to appreciate him as a player, a teammate, and a friend.
W
hen Jackie Robinson participated in his first game as a Brooklyn Dodger on April 15, 1947, he became the first African-American athlete to play in Major League Baseball. He opened the door for other African-American athletes after him, and left behind an incredible legacy. Jackie was named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and was the first African-American to be voted the National League MVP in 1949. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
In 1972, the Dodgers retired his uniform number, 42. And in 1997, the league retired the number 42 across all teams, making Jackie Robinson the first player in any sport to have this honor. In 2004, the league instituted Jackie Robinson Day on the anniversary of his first game in the majors. April 15 is the only day that players are allowed and encouraged to sport the number 42 on their jerseys.
eISBN 978-0-545-54113-8
Copyright © 2013 by Legendary Pictures Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
42
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Novel cover design © 2013, Legendary Pictures Productions LLC. All rights reserved. Author's Note Photo 1 © SMI/Newsroom; Author's Note Photo 2 © Associated Press
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First printing, March 2013
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