13 Chapter 12 Number 42

Chapter 12 Number 42

第十二章42号

Five days later, on April 15, 1947, Jackie played in his first major league game. The Dodgers were

五天后，1947年4月15日，杰基参加了他的第一场大联盟比赛。 道奇队是

at home at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. One newspaper headline read: "Triumph of Whole Race Seen in Jackie's Debut in Major League Ball." Talk about pressure! It was a cool, clear afternoon. When Jackie reached the clubhouse, he put on his #42 uniform for the first time. "It fit me," Jackie said later, "but I still felt like a stranger, or an uninvited guest." Jackie knew Rachel, with Jackie, Jr., was cheering from the stands. And he knew his mother was rooting for him, too, back in California. That helped him stay calm as he took first base. The Dodgers were playing the Boston Braves. The Braves were up first. The first Braves batter hit a ground ball to third. The third baseman picked it up and tossed it to Jackie. Out! Two outs later, the Dodgers trotted off the field. At Jackie's first at bat, the crowd cheered. He held the bat high. He leaned into his stance, toes pointing in. Holding his Louisville Slugger tightly, he faced the pitcher. Curveballs and fastballs came at Jackie like speeding bullets. Hard, high-speed strikes. This

在布鲁克林的埃比茨球场。 一家报纸的标题是:“成龙在大联盟的首次亮相见证了整个种族的胜利。” 说到压力!这是一个凉爽、晴朗的下午。 当杰基到达俱乐部会所时，他第一次穿上了42号队服。 “它很适合我，”杰基后来说，“但我仍然觉得自己像个陌生人，或者一个不请自来的客人。” 杰基认识瑞秋，小杰基正在看台上欢呼。 他知道他在加州的母亲也支持他。 这有助于他在上一垒时保持冷静。 道奇队对阵波士顿勇士队。 勇士队先起来了。勇士队的第一个击球手打了一个滚地球到三垒。 三垒手捡起球，扔给杰基。 出去!两出局后，道奇队小跑离场。 杰基第一次击球时，人群欢呼起来。 他把球棒举得很高。他身体前倾，脚趾朝内。 他紧紧握着他的路易斯维尔棒，面对着投手。 曲线球和快速球像子弹一样向杰基飞来。 猛烈、高速的打击。这

wasn't the minors anymore.

不再是未成年人了。

Finally, Jackie swung. The ball arched, then rolled toward third. It was an easy out. Still the crowd cheered. The Dodgers won 5—3. But Jackie was disappointed. He wanted to play better. He hoped to be a key part of the team. In the early days, Jackie was quiet around his teammates. He kept to himself. Nobody, he felt, was trying to make him feel wanted. Jackie kept telling himself it didn't matter if no one liked him. All that mattered was respect. Jackie received threatening letters from people he didn't know. One said, "We have already got rid of several like you," in block letters. Some letters threatened to harm Rachel and Jackie, Jr. Branch Rickey showed them to the police. Players on other teams pointed bats at Jackie like machine guns. They dug their cleats into him as they stepped on first base. The first game against the Philadelphia Phillies was very tough on Jackie. The Phillies shouted such hateful insults that Jackie later said, "[they] brought me nearer to cracking up than I ever had been." But there was an upside. His Dodger

最后，杰基挥棒。球拱起，然后滚向三垒。 这是一件容易的事。人群仍在欢呼。 道奇队以5比3获胜。但是杰基很失望。 他想打得更好。他希望成为球队的关键一员。 刚开始的时候，成龙在队友身边很安静。 他独来独往。他觉得，没有人试图让他感到被需要。 杰基一直告诉自己，没有人喜欢他也没关系。 重要的是尊重。 杰基收到了不认识的人发来的恐吓信。 其中一个用大写字母写道:“我们已经解雇了几个像你这样的人。” 有些信威胁要伤害瑞秋和小杰基。 布兰奇·里奇把它们拿给警察看了。 其他球队的球员把球棒像机关枪一样对准杰基。 当他们踏上一垒时，他们把钉鞋戳进了他身上。 第一场对费城费城人队的比赛对杰基来说非常艰难。 费城人队的球迷们充满仇恨地辱骂着杰基，杰基后来说:“(他们)让我比以往任何时候都更接近崩溃。” 但也有好的一面。他的道奇