12 Chapter 11 The Majors

Chapter 11 The Majors In 1947, spring training for the Dodgers and the Royals was in Cuba, an island ninety miles off the coast of Florida. Jackie had grown to feel comfortable with the Montreal players. But even

in Cuba Jackie had to stay in separate housing and eat in different restaurants from his teammates. Because the Dodgers already had many shortstops and second basemen, Jackie was now told to try a new position—first base. Jackie understood. Switching to first baseman gave him a better shot at making the Dodgers team, but it wasn't easy learning a new position. It also didn't help Jackie's focus that rumors were flying: First Jackie was on the Dodgers. Then he was off. Then he was on again. LEO DUROCHER Leo Durocher, the Dodgers' manager, saw how talented Jackie was. One night he called a meeting

at the hotel. Although it was late, he pulled all the players from their rooms. Jackie wasn't there. Durocher had heard some Dodgers were banding together to try to keep Jackie off the team. In a now famous speech, Leo Durocher announced, "I don't care if a guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays."

Jackie was going to get the Dodgers into the World Series, Durocher told his players. After that, none of the players talked about keeping Jackie off the team.

Finally, on April 10, 1947, Jackie met with Branch Rickey again and got the news he wanted to hear: He was a Dodger! Still, Rickey asked him to play one last time as a minor leaguer.

That afternoon, Jackie played his last game as a Royal against the Dodgers at an exhibition game in Brooklyn. In the sixth inning, Jackie bunted into a double play. At the same time, a news announcement was handed out to reporters. It was a short announcement, but it made sports history. A black player was in the majors! Jackie Robinson was a Brooklyn Dodger.