The Jackie Robinson Story Page #3

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They've been throwin' at my head

for a long time, Mr. Rickey.

Suppose I'm a player

in the heat of a game.

I collide with you

at second base.

And when I get up, I say,

"You dirty black so-and-so!"

What do you do?

Mr. Rickey, do you

want a ballplayer

who's afraid to fight back?

I want a ballplayer

with guts enough

not to fight back.

You've got to do

this job with base hits,

stolen bases, and fielding

ground balls, Jackie.

Nothing else.

I'm playin' against you

and I'm hotheaded.

I want to win this game.

I go into you spikes first.

You jab the ball in my ribs.

The umpire says, "Out."

All I see is your face...

That black face over me.

So I haul off and punch you

right in the cheek.

What do you do?

Mr. Rickey, I've got two cheeks.

Good!

You under contract

to the Black Panthers?

No, sir, we don't

have contracts.

Do you have any agreement

about how long you'll play?

No, sir, none at all.

All right.

Clyde will give you

a contract before you leave.

Don't sign it right away.

This is a very important move.

Think it over carefully.

Is your, ah, mother living?

Yes, sir, she's in California.

Call her up... ask her advice.

We'll pay the phone bill.

Yes, sir.

And, Jackie...

remember one thing.

No matter what happens

on the ball field,

you can't fight back.

That's going

to be the hard part...

You can't fight back.

Helen, get

Jackie Robinson's home

in Pasadena, California.

It's Sycamore 7-6-4-5-9.

Brrrrrrring

Hello?

Who?

From New York?

Yes, put him on, please.

It... it's Jackie, Mom.

Calling from New York.

Why is he calling?

Is somethin' wrong with him?

Just a minute, Mom.

Hello?

Yes!

Jackie?!

How are you, kid?

Are you okay?

He's okay, Mom.

You want to talk to Mom?

Sure, she's right here.

He wants to talk to you, Mom.

Hello, Jackie.

You all right?

You've got a chance for what?

I can be the

first Negro to ever play

in organized baseball, Mom.

If I'm good enough...

If I can make the grade.

Only, I'll be taking

a big chance.

Mack, they want Jackie

to play baseball for...

For Brooklyn.

They do?

Yeah.

Well, Jackie, I don't know

what kind of advice to give you.

Only...

only there must be churches

in a big town like New York.

Why don't you

go find yourself a church

and talk to the minister

and see what he has to say.

And Jackie, any time

you have a real problem,

listen to God about it.

Here, talk to your brother Mack.

He knows more about

baseball than I do.

Tap-tap.

Come in.

Are you Reverend Carter?

That's right, son.

My name's Robinson...

Jackie Robinson.

Glad to know you, Mr. Robinson.

I need some advice...

Important advice.

Well, suppose we sit down

and talk this thing over.

You're new to this part

of the city, Mr. Robinson?

I'm from California.

I came to New York yesterday

to see Branch Rickey.

Rickey?

Do you mean, uh...

Mr. Rickey, the baseball man?

Yes.

I'm a ballplayer, Reverend.

I've just learned

that the Brooklyn Dodgers

have been scouting Negro players

for a couple of years,

and Mr. Rickey thinks

I'm good enough to...

Reverend, it means

that a colored man

will be able to play

on the same field

with a white man

for the first time.

Uh, who goes out

to these ball parks, Jackie?

Just white men?

No, anybody can buy

a ticket, Reverend.

Colored or white.

Ah, tell me, Jackie.

What do you think

would actually happen

if you were to get out

on a white baseball field?

I don't know.

They might call me names.

They might even beat me up.

I don't mean what would happen

to you, Jackie.

I mean, what would happen

to the colored people?

Might start fights.

Might even start a riot.

That's true.

On the other hand,

every step forward

for our people

has started a fight somewhere...

For the time being, anyhow.

This is a big thing

you have to decide, Jackie,

and not just for you alone.

It's a big thing

for the whole colored people.

I know.

That's why I came

to you for help.

A great deal depends

upon you, Jackie.

What kind of a man you are.

I suppose upon...

what kind of a ballplayer

you are too.

I don't know what kind

of a man I am, Reverend,

but, ah, I think I'm

a pretty good ballplayer.

That might help...

yes, it might help a great deal.

It's wonderful to see you,

especially when I'd...

I'd almost given you up.

I should have written

oftener but...

you know how it is?

You keep waiting for good news...

Something worth writing about.

And then when this

big chance came,

I didn't want to tell you.

I wanted to be sure

I had the contract signed.

You know, sometimes

when you wait

for real good news,

you wait forever.

I guess so.

I don't want to wait forever.

Look, let's sit a minute.

Let's talk it over.

All right.

It's gonna be real tough.

A lot of people don't want

a Negro in baseball.

I know.

As soon as I make it stick,

I'll come for you.

We'll get married.

No...

not after you've

made good, Jackie.

Now... before you start.

I can't let you do that.

I've got to go south

for spring training.

I'll have to face that.

It might not be easy.

It'll be easier

if we face it together.

It won't be any picnic.

You marry me now,

and you're askin' for trouble.

All right, Jackie.

I'll ask for it.

(man) Daytona Beach, next stop.

Are you Jackie Robinson?

Yes, I am and this is my wife.

Glad to know you.

My name's Gaines.

I'm an attorney here.

Mr. Rickey asked me if I

could help arrange

accommodations for you.

He did?

Sent a man down

to look up a place

for you to stay.

I won.

That's very nice

of you, Mr. Gaines.

We're proud to have you.

Your bags will be

in the checkroom.

My car's right out front.

Crack!

Whack!

Whack!

Fvwhee-whooo.

Hey, Robinson.

Ask you a few questions?

You think there's goin'

to be trouble?

He means trouble with

the other players.

Trouble?

The only trouble

I'm worried about's

ground balls to my right.

Think you're good enough

to make the Dodgers?

Don't know if I can

make Montreal.

Better concentrate

on that first.

What are you gonna do

if a pitcher throws

at your head?

Same as you'd do... duck!

What're you

sportswriters doin' up

at this hour of the mornin'?

Walkin' in your sleep?

Thought we'd take a look

at your new ballplayer, Clay.

Look at him playin' ball...

Not flappin' his mouth

with you guys.

Get out there and throw a few,

loosen up your arm.

Yes, Mr. Hopper.

Do you think

baseball will accept

a colored second baseman?

First, let's see if I will.

Whack

whack

whack

whack

whack

whack

thud, thud... thud.

Let's have one!

Want me to take the first one?

Or shall I hit away?

Use your own judgment, Shorty.

How's that high elbow comin'?

Keep you from hittin'

under the ball?

Don't work out like it should, Mr.

Hopper.

Of course, I don't pop

to the infield anymore.

I just fly into center field.

Shorty's got a problem.

He's built too close

to the ground.

But I've got a new idea.

When I take the bat back,

I'm gonna hold it up.

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