10 Chapter 9 Spring Training

Chapter 9 Spring Training In early 1946, Jackie was almost twenty-seven years old. It was a time of big changes. On February 10, Jackie married Rachel. A few weeks

later, the newlyweds left for spring training in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jackie felt scared and excited. Now he was playing for the Montreal Royals. The next step could be the major leagues! Jackie understood that being the first black player would be difficult. In fact, just getting to Florida for spring training was a struggle.

The Robinsons flew from L.A. to New Orleans. They had to catch a connecting flight to Pensacola, Florida, then on to Jacksonville. But they were bumped from flight after flight because they were black. They couldn't find an airport restaurant to eat in. They were for "whites only." When they finally reached Pensacola, Jackie and Rachel once again were bumped from flights. White people got the seats instead. So they decided to take a bus the rest of the way. They had to sit in the "for coloreds" back row, the worst seats on the bus. The trip took one-and-a-half days. No matter how tired he felt, Jackie knew he had to be at his best for the first day of training. He walked onto a field with two hundred players. Everyone on the Montreal team was white, except for one black pitcher named Johnny Wright. He was also trying out, but all eyes were on Jackie. Reporters were there, too. "What would you do if one of these pitchers threw at your head?" one asked. "I'd duck!" Jackie answered.

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Jackie tried to joke when asked questions like this. But often it was hard to keep a sense of humor. Jackie couldn't stay at the same hotel as the other players. He and Rachel had to stay at the home of a local couple.

Sometimes other teams canceled games. They refused to play against a black player. Some ballparks locked their gates from Jackie and the rest of the Montreal players. Once, a game in DeLand, Florida, was called off. The excuse was that the stadium lights weren't working. But it was a daytime game. No lights were needed. Some players on his own team looked through Jackie like he wasn't even there. At times Jackie was so fed up, he wanted to go home. But he didn't. He kept on practicing and playing. It wasn't all bad. Crowds poured into the stands to watch Jackie bat and try out his new position. Sure, some people came to jeer. But many more people came to cheer. The black sections overflowed. Fans had to be turned away.