The Jackie Robinson Story Page #6

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transferred to another club?

Yes, sir, I would.

I may accommodate you, sir.

All right, men.

I respect your right

to petition.

But I do question

and I will fight

any petition

that denies any American

the right to earn his living

in a game that is

supposed to represent

the democratic principles

of sportsmanship and fair play!

Do you understand me?!

- (Tony) Yes, sir.

- (Dalby) Yes, sir.

That's all for tonight.

Your suits are in your lockers.

There's a ball game tomorrow.

I hope I'll see you there...

in uniform.

Jackie.

Yes, sir.

Jackie, Montreal is starting

a 12-game series

with the Dodgers.

Yes, sir.

Take this.

During that series I want you

to play first base for Montreal.

First base?

Mr. Rickey, I've never

played first base.

We're protected

at second base, Jackie.

We've got Burwell.

Brooklyn can use

a good first baseman.

Oh, I see.

Go out there and show 'em.

Run their legs off.

Yes, sir!

I sure will!

Phump-phump-phump

(catcher) Right here now!

Come on!

(umpire) Ball!

All right, come on, Lefty!

Get him out of there!

Make him pitch to ya.

Thunk

(player) Take it, Jackie!

(umpire) He's out!

Fine play.

(umpire) Batter up!

Come on now.

All right, Lefty, come on, boy.

Whack!

(umpire) You're out!

A great play!

Yeah, but a little dangerous.

I think I'll move over

to the Brooklyn side.

(Rickey) Karpen.

You wanted to keep Robinson

off the Brooklyn team?

Yes, sir.

Then why do you keep feeding him

those big fat ones?

I ain't feedin' him no fat ones.

Then how'd he get

three hits off you?

Just lucky.

All right, Karpen.

He's up first in this inning.

If you want to keep him

off the team,

I'll tell you how you can do it.

Strike him out.

Okay, watch me.

(umpire) Play ball!

(umpire) Ball one!

(player)

That's the way to throw 'im out.

Come on now!

Give me a good ball now!

Thattaboy now!

Here to me now!

Let's get this game started.

Hey, Barney... win this game

and I'll give you

a great big kiss.

What's the matter with you guys?

You think I don't mean it?

Sit down!

Hey, Robinson,

why don't you go back

to Harlem where you belong?

Why don't you

drop dead, Robinson?

Greetings from Ebbets Field.

They call it big league

baseball, folks,

because you've got to be bigger

and better to stay up here.

That's the problem

confronting Jackie Robinson

at this very minute

as he goes to bat

for the first time

in a big league game.

Oh, yes, I know he's done

all right in training...

I've seen the papers too.

But that was only practice.

From now on, it's for keeps.

There's a little man

upstairs in the press box

who's known among other things

as the official scorer.

He watches like a hawk.

He marks down everything.

He'll make a mark for every move

that Jackie Robinson makes...

Good or bad.

And not only

the official scorer's eyes

are on the Negro rookie...

the whole world is waiting.

Everybody wants to know

if Branch Rickey

has made a mistake.

Will they be able to say

"I told you so"?

Let's see.

Whack!

Down, Jack!

Safe!

He made it! He made it!

He got a triple!

So what?

What do you mean "so what?"

Sit down.

Ooh!

You'll lose your

tightness in a few days.

It's nerves, that's all.

I just can't get on

to shifting my feet.

I missed the bag

completely today

in the third inning.

If they'd only let you

play second base.

We've got Burwell

at second base.

First is where they need me.

If you can't get it

and it worries you...

It's got me worried.

And it's got me where

I'm not hitting, either.

You're still

their best base runner.

They can't take

that away from you.

Yeah, but you can't steal first.

Owww!

What've you got in those hands?

Steel springs?

They're nurse's hands, remember?

They'd better nurse me

out of this slump,

or Mr. Rickey will be

lookin' for a new boy.

Don't wait till you feel

the bag under your foot.

Do it all in one motion.

I just can't get the hang of it.

Try another one.

That's worse.

(player) Here, let

me show you how.

You almost had it last time.

When you miss the bag,

you kick back for it like this.

Here, you try it.

Thanks.

That's the idea.

All you have to do

is practice now.

Why'd he want to do that?

If I can't make

the grade at first base,

he'd have his old job back.

He's a team player, Jackie.

Yeah, and the weatherman

apologizes for the recent rain.

Well, let's get serious, folks.

They can't say

that Branch Rickey

hasn't given Jackie Robinson

a king-sized opportunity

in staying

in big league baseball.

On that last road trip,

when the California boy

wasn't hitting too well,

some of the

out-of-town sportswriters

said that Jackie

should have been out of there.

He had a little trouble

with first base...

Playing it and reaching it.

He just couldn't come up

with that extra base hit.

Right now, I see Jackie

stepping into the box.

All right, bring it in

out there.

Here we go!

Ball!

Come on, babe.

All right, let's go.

Here it is.

Whack!

Thattaboy, Jackie.

What happened to you?!

Keep your

fingers crossed, folks.

It may be that the rookie,

Jackie Robinson,

is a big league

ballplayer after all.

But he had us

all worried, didn't he?

Going to the plate 19

straight times without a hit.

But the pendulum

can swing both ways,

and it may be

that Jackie has started

on a hitting streak now.

In baseball, it's not

who or what you are,

but can you play the game?

And Jackie Robinson

sure is playing it.

Whack!

Well, Dalby, he's hitting again.

Yeah, we might win

the pennant now.

Whack!

Safe!

You're out of the game, Kelly!

He knocked me down!

Didn't you spike the

Cub shortstop last week?

That was an accident.

So was this an accident.

They're all accidents!

Let's get out there!

Next time I get on base,

watch out for spikes.

Get off the field!

You better get Robinson

off the field.

Yeah, get him off.

Get him out of here.

Anybody lookin' for

a little argument?

Yes, I am!

You're out of the game too.

Who me?

Yes, you.

What's the big idea,

you dirty little...

Get off the field

or it's gonna cost you plenty!

(Dalby) Let's get out of here!

(Karpen) Let me at that guy!

Come on, get out... play ball.

Whack!

Come on, Jackie.

Go ahead, go on!

Hey, Mike!

What's happened to my clothes?

I got them over here.

Come here,

I'll show them to you.

I got a locker for ya.

Thanks.

The Brooklyn Dodgers

really are pouring it on now.

They're up at bat

with one run behind

in the ninth inning

and Brooklyn hearts today

have skipped more beats

than an absent-minded policeman.

Well, this boy's set fire

to the league since midseason

when he hit safely

in 21 straight games,

missing the league record

by one.

He's laid down

42 successful bunts...

A prodigious number.

He's a cinch to be voted

the Rookie of the Year,

incidentally.

Now we've got

a runner on second,

the tying run,

and Jackie Robinson

is at the plate.

He can't bunt now.

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