1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

AP story on Robinson's first game

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by JBHawkEye, Apr 11, 2007.

  1. JBHawkEye

    JBHawkEye Well-Known Member

    AP moved this a little while ago. Thought it was interesting.

    Brooklyn Dodgers win in Robinson’s debut
    EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the AP story as run by The Washington Post.
    BROOKLYN (AP) — Pete Reiser, key to Brooklyn’s flag chances, blazed a seventh-inning double off the screen a foot inside the right-field foul line at Ebbets Field today to drive across the tying and winning runs as the pilotless Dodgers opened their 1947 campaign with a 5-to-3 victory over the Boston Braves.
    Although he did not get a hit in four official times at bat, Jackie Robinson, first Negro to play in modern big league ball, signalized his official debut as a Dodger by sprinting home with the deciding run on Reiser’s smash and playing perfect ball at first base.
    Reiser’s hit, his second off Johnny Sain, was only the sixth produced by the Dodgers, and it was their last as Mort Cooper and Anton Karl combined the rest of the way to hold them in check. Boston made eight blows off lefty Joe Hatten and Hal Gregg, who relieved after Hatten had been lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth.
    With Brooklyn trailing, 3-2, to open the seventh, Eddie Stanky led off with a walk, bringing up Robinson. The Negro in three previous attempts had done no better than hit into a double-play, roll to shortstop and loft an easy fly to left. This time he laid down a perfect bunt midway to the pitcher’s box and tore for first. Earl Torgeson grabbed the sphere and made a hard, hurried peg to first that hit Robinson on the leg and rocketed on into right field.
    Robinson had no difficulty reaching second and Stanky pulled up at third. Reiser had no difficulty reaching second and Stanky pulled up at third. Reiser then weighed in with his double, a terrific clout. Reiser then scooted home with the fifth and unneeded run on Gene Hermanski’s fly to deep center.
    A disappointing crowd of only 25,623 paid to see the Dodgers get away in front of one of their main rivals for the National League flag.
     
  2. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    Just saw that. Fascinating, really.
     
  3. JBHawkEye

    JBHawkEye Well-Known Member

    They also posted the leads from the stories in the New York papers that day. Again, interesting reads.
     
  4. Mighty_Wingman

    Mighty_Wingman Active Member

    Aside from the obvious historical significance of the story (and what a great idea, to re-run the AP gamer) I was most struck by the way the story read.

    It shows how much sportswriting has changed in the 50 years. Even taking out the "Negro" stuff (which, of course, is a product of the times), I was surprised at the amount of sports jargon in there.

    "Flag" for pennant? "Peg" for throw? "Blows" for hits?
     
  5. daemon

    daemon Well-Known Member

    Haven't you been listening to the journalism professors? It's the ESPN-ization of language.

    Oh, wait. . .
     
  6. MonitorLizard

    MonitorLizard Member

    If this were written under current sportswriting practices, the score of the game might sneak in by the sixth graf. Fascinating that Robinson's debut doesn't appear until the second in the original gamer.
     
  7. Mighty_Wingman

    Mighty_Wingman Active Member

    I thought that was pretty interesting too. Though it occurred to me it could have gotten even worse play, and presumably did in plenty of newspapers.
     
  8. HejiraHenry

    HejiraHenry Well-Known Member

    Over-under, please, on the number of desk wonks who'll try to change "Negro" to "African American"?
     
  9. Mighty_Wingman

    Mighty_Wingman Active Member

    After re-reading it, is this error cq?

     
  10. MonitorLizard

    MonitorLizard Member

    They moved another version removing the redundancy.

    They also moved a really interesting piece by Jim Becker about what it was like to cover that game, and the mood in the press box that led to the stories being written the way they were. It's 30 inches so I won't post it, but it's really good. Haven't found it anywhere to link to, either.
     
  11. chazp

    chazp Active Member

    I loved the use of "sphere" for ball. Wonder what "the pilotless Dodgers" means. Did they begin the season without a manager?
     
  12. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    "Clout" for double, too.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page