14 Chapter 13 Glory Years

Chapter 13 Glory Years Jackie played for the Dodgers for ten years. During those years, he and Rachel had two more children, Sharon and David. They moved from

Brooklyn to a house in Queens, and then to a bigger house in Connecticut. Jackie wrote two books about his life. He starred in a movie, The Jackie Robinson Story. With Jackie, the Dodgers won six National League pennants. Time and again they went up against the Yankees in famous "Subway Series." Time and again, they lost. The year 1949 was Jackie's greatest season. He was named Most Valuable Player and led the National League in hitting and stolen bases. A year later, Branch Rickey left the Dodgers. It was a blow to Jackie, who thought of Rickey almost as a father. Times were changing. Slowly, more black players were being signed to major league teams. Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella both joined the Dodgers. They became All-Stars, too. The Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Browns both signed black players soon after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.

DON NEWCOMBE PITCHER BROOKLYN DODGERS

ROY CAMPANELLA CATCHER BROOKLYN DODGERS During those years, the civil rights movement grew stronger. People fought for blacks to be treated fairly. Even though Jackie was the highestpaid Dodgers player of all time, in the South he still couldn't stay in the same hotels as his white teammates. As time went on, Jackie decided that he had kept his promise to Branch Rickey. Now he could speak up off and on the field. Jackie began to shout at umpires. He talked back to rival teams. Some people thought he was too loud. But others defended him. They said Jackie was doing what any player would do. It was just making news because of his color.

In 1955, Jackie was thirty-six years old. He was turning gray and losing speed. He was playing outfield now. People thought his best days were over. Once again, the Dodgers were facing the Yankees in the World Series. And in the very first game, something amazing happened—Jackie Robinson stole home, right under the glove of catcher Yogi Berra!

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