11 Chapter 10 The Minors

Chapter 10 The Minors Jackie and Rachel liked living in Montreal. Their neighbors were friendly and helpful to Rachel, who was expecting a baby. Life on the road often wasn't so nice. One time in Syracuse, New York, a player on the other team threw a black cat onto the field. "There's your cousin!" he called to Jackie.

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Jackie remembered what Branch Rickey told him. So he said nothing. Instead, he waited to come up to bat. Jackie doubled, then ran home on the next single. Playing great baseball was the best way to prove he belonged on the team. It was thrilling for fans to watch him play. He hit the ball hard. He was a master at stealing bases. Jackie led his team to the Little World Series. Just like the World Series, whoever won in a best of seven series would win the Minor League Championship. The Royals were playing the Louisville Colonels. For the first time, southern Kentucky was hosting an integrated baseball game. The fans there were loud and mean. Jackie did not play his best. After three games, the Royals were down two games to one. But everything changed back in Montreal for Game 4. Jackie scored the tying run. Then in extra innings, he drove in the winning run. In the next game, Jackie doubled and tripled. In the eighth inning he bunted, bringing home a man on third. The Royals won 5—3.

The Royals won Game 6, too, and the series—thanks to two double plays by Jackie and two big hits. Fans screamed their hearts out for Jackie. People streamed onto the field and carried him on their shoulders. The next month, Jackie celebrated another event: His son Jackie, Jr., was born on November 18th in a Los Angeles hospital. For a little while, Jackie relaxed and enjoyed his family. He loved spending time in California with his mother, brothers, and sister. But in just a few months, Jackie would be back at spring training. Now was the time to prove he was ready for the majors.

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