Jackie at 100

Deserves its own thread.

 

Breaking baseball's color barrier was inevitable, but required someone of Jackie's physical, mental and psychological courage -- and Branch Rickey's vision. Jesse Owens and Joe Louis (plus thousands of black GIs) began the journey, but Jackie broke it for good. Too bad he didn't live longer to see Frank Robinson manage.

 

The restraint and courage that Mr. Robinson exhibited (while becoming a MVP and WS hero) is hard to fathom.

 

I had the pleasure to meet and interview Buck Leonard shortly before his death. Obviously, not playing in the major leagues was his biggest regret. But he also said he wouldn't have been able to put up with what Jackie did at the time.

 

And Buck Leonard was, by reputation, one of the most consistent and even-keeled players in the Negro Leagues.

 

Negro Leaguer from our town had all kinds of memorabilia, including an invitation to "An Afternoon of Jazz" at the home of Jackie and Rachel Robinson.