Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball

By Scott Simon

"An extraordinary book . . . invitingly written and brisk."
--Chicago Tribune

"Perhaps no one has ever told the tale [of Robinson's arrival in the major leagues] so well as [Simon] does in this extended essay."
--The Washington Post Book World

"Scott Simon tells a compelling story of risk and sacrifice, profound ugliness and profound grace, defiance and almost unimaginable courage. This is a meticulously researched, insightful, beautifully written book, one that should be read, reread, and remembered."
--Laura Hillenbrand, author of the New York Times bestseller Seabiscuit

The integration of baseball in 1947 had undeniable significance for the civil rights movement and American history. Thanks to Jackie Robinson, a barrier that had once been believed to be permanent was shattered--paving the way for scores of African Americans who wanted nothing more than to be granted the same rights as any other human being.

In this book, renowned broadcaster Scott Simon reveals how Robinson's heroism brought the country face-to-face with the question of racial equality. From his days in the army to his ascent to the major leagues, Robinson battled bigotry at every turn. Simon deftly traces the journey of the rookie who became Rookie of the Year, recalling the taunts and threats, the stolen bases and the slides to home plate, the trials and triumphs. Robinson's number, 42, has been retired by every club in major league baseball--in homage to the man who had to hang his first Brooklyn Dodgers uniform on a hook rather than in a locker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
• Release date: Jul 31, 2007
• ISBN: 9780470242841

Scott Simon

Scott Simon is an Emmy- and Peabody Award–winning writer and broadcaster. He is the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, which The Washington Post has called “the most literate, witty, moving, and just plain interesting news show on any dial.” He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador and Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His nonfiction books include Unforgettable: A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a Lifetime; Home and Away: Memoirs of a Fan; Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball; and Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other, about the joys of adoption. He is also the author of several novels, including Sunnyside Plaza and the upcoming Wins, Losses, Saves.

Reviews for Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball

[rosalita_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the major leagues since before the Jim Crow era. Given the state of race relations in America, the ensuing condemnation, boos, and death threats were sad but unsurprising. There's a lot more to Jackie Robinson's life than just his baseball career, but this short book takes a more narrow focus and thus can feel somewhat incomplete to someone looking for a more well-rounded biography. It's beautifully written, however, by the longtime National Public Radio reporter and host Scott Simon, and could be a good introduction, especially for younger readers, into the history we should all be aware of.

[tdaggett_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More a long essay than a book, but a nice write-up on the selection of Jackie Robinson and his first season in Baseball.