- 2 days ago
After a successful baseball career in college and as a coach in the military, Jackie Robinson (playing himself) attracts the attention of Major League Baseball's Branch Rickey (Minor Watson). Rickey wants Robinson to play in the minor leagues, believing he can become the first player to break the color barrier and play in the majors. The only catch: He is forbidden from defending himself against racial bigotry. Supported by his wife (Ruby Dee), Robinson is steadfast in his determination to win.
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Short filmTranscript
00:01:15This is the story of a boy and his dream, but more than that, it is the story of an
00:01:21American
00:01:21boy in a dream that is truly American.
00:01:29The year 1928, the time, spring.
00:01:33If you were a young man, your thoughts were undoubtedly turning to those of love.
00:01:37But if you were a young boy, your thoughts were of one thing, baseball.
00:02:05Great bunch of infielders we got.
00:02:07Yeah, big leaguers.
00:02:11Give me one, mister.
00:02:13What do you want?
00:02:15Rounders, fly, anything.
00:02:18Watch this.
00:02:21Right here.
00:02:22Right here, come on.
00:02:24How's that for a ball player?
00:02:26Yeah, we ought to give him another chance.
00:02:27Hey, kid, you want another?
00:02:30Yeah, sir.
00:02:31Here it comes.
00:02:38Hey, kid, come here a minute.
00:02:44Now, don't tell me that one didn't sting.
00:02:46Just a little bit.
00:02:47Haven't you got a glove?
00:02:49No, sir.
00:02:50Come here a minute.
00:03:02You mean I can borrow this?
00:03:04No, you can have it.
00:03:06For keeps?
00:03:07For keeps.
00:03:08Yay!
00:03:16Yes, Jackie.
00:03:17Look, Mom.
00:03:18Where'd you get it?
00:03:19A man down there gave it to me.
00:03:20Torn.
00:03:21You can sew it up.
00:03:23Oh, Jackie.
00:03:25Bye.
00:03:34Bye.
00:03:36Bye.
00:03:43Bye.
00:03:47Bye.
00:04:10Jacky!
00:04:12Yes, Mom?
00:04:13So, Mom, like that?
00:04:15No, Mom.
00:04:16The way you have them now reads Junior Pasadena College.
00:04:21That way, Mom.
00:04:22Pass it in to Junior College.
00:04:24Of course.
00:04:25How'd I get it mixed up like that?
00:04:27Bye, bye.
00:04:29Yeah, they wouldn't know who I'd be jumping for to track me tomorrow.
00:04:32Is that what your brother Mack won a medal for?
00:04:34Is that what you're talking about?
00:04:35Won a medal?
00:04:36Mom, when Mack jumped for Pasadena Junior College,
00:04:39he broke the National Junior College record.
00:04:41And nobody has jumped that far since.
00:04:43That's nice.
00:04:53This kid jumped 25 feet, 6 1⁄2 inches, Bill.
00:04:57Broke his brother's record.
00:04:59Do you think maybe he could jump over that Southern Cal line?
00:05:03He led the conference in TDs.
00:05:05Only there's one problem, Bill.
00:05:07Oh, you mean the Trojans have already got him?
00:05:09No, no.
00:05:10No, he's a colored boy.
00:05:12And I heard somebody squawking about giving colored boys too many athletic scholarships.
00:05:16Colored boys are all right with me if they're the right color.
00:05:19The right color?
00:05:21I like a good, clean American boy with a B average.
00:05:24That's the kind of a boy you're talking about.
00:05:27His colors are blue and gold.
00:05:30UCLA colors, huh?
00:05:31That's right.
00:05:32And you can tell it to Robinson for me.
00:05:54Come on, Jackie. Come on. Come on, boy. Come on, Jackie. Come on.
00:05:59Hey, you're his brother, aren't you?
00:06:01That's right.
00:06:02You're Mack Robinson.
00:06:04I ran against you when you were at Oregon.
00:06:06Oh, sure. You ran for Southern Cal.
00:06:08Pete Shoeback. This is my wife.
00:06:10Hello, Mack.
00:06:10How do you do? This is Ray Isen, Jackie's girl.
00:06:13Hello.
00:06:14What are you doing these days, kid?
00:06:16Oh, I got a good steady job.
00:06:18Glad to hear it.
00:06:20Come on, Jackie.
00:06:35Easing up?
00:06:36Yeah, a lot.
00:06:38I don't know what's the matter with those guys out there giving it to Jack like that.
00:06:41Just because he...
00:06:42Because he's the best halfback on the field.
00:06:45Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure.
00:06:48Jackie, I wasn't kidding about that either.
00:06:51They certainly have a lot of respect for you out there.
00:06:53I have a lot of respect for them, too.
00:06:55Believe me.
00:06:58How's Mack been doing lately?
00:07:00I always liked Mack.
00:07:02Mack?
00:07:03Oh, Mack's doing fine.
00:07:19You've been waiting long?
00:07:21No.
00:07:22Just got here.
00:07:23Somebody told me you got an honorable mention on the All-American.
00:07:26Did I?
00:07:27Somebody else told me you cut class this morning.
00:07:29Could be.
00:07:31Was it because you worked late last night?
00:07:32And because I went to see about a better job.
00:07:35A full-time job.
00:07:36Why now?
00:07:37You've still got some time before you graduate.
00:07:38If I graduate.
00:07:40Oh.
00:07:41Suppose I finish out the year.
00:07:43I'm no further along than when I started.
00:07:45No closer to getting a half-decent job so I can afford to get married.
00:07:49Who are you thinking of marrying, Mr. Robinson?
00:07:51Oh, you know who.
00:07:53Your mother will take it hard if you quit school now.
00:07:56Yes, I know.
00:07:57No.
00:07:57You ought to talk to her before you do anything and to Mack.
00:08:01Yeah.
00:08:02It was Mack I was thinking of.
00:08:09Well, if you just wait until June and get your diploma...
00:08:13A lot of good of college education did Mack.
00:08:16Oh, Mack's all right.
00:08:17He's got a job.
00:08:19Yeah.
00:08:20A good, steady job.
00:08:36Hey, Mack.
00:08:41What are you doing here at this time of night?
00:08:44I'll fix you some lunch.
00:08:47Here, catch.
00:08:49Man, that's really smart signal calling.
00:08:52I thought you'd be hungry.
00:08:54I'm always hungry.
00:08:55Is it a while?
00:08:56Sure.
00:09:03Anything bothering you?
00:09:04I want to quit college.
00:09:06Right after the basketball season.
00:09:09What for?
00:09:10I got to get a job.
00:09:11I want to marry Ray.
00:09:13School's one thing, but you and mom can't support Ray too.
00:09:17Can't wait till you graduate.
00:09:19What good will a degree do me?
00:09:21They're not hiring color football coaches.
00:09:23Not our color anyway.
00:09:25Don't you want to play baseball this season?
00:09:26What good will that do me?
00:09:28Baseball is one sport they'll never let me in.
00:09:31Yeah.
00:09:32It's your best sport too.
00:09:35I wonder if there's any place where they will let you in.
00:09:40Here's one place nobody draws a color line.
00:09:43Yeah.
00:09:44Great job for a college man.
00:09:46It may not be a great job, but it's steady.
00:10:10Nice going there, Jacky.
00:10:12Thanks a lot.
00:10:14What's this I hear about you quitting?
00:10:16Yeah, right after the basketball season.
00:10:18We'll miss you, fella.
00:10:20You got a job lined up?
00:10:21No, not yet.
00:10:22What about those letters we sent to the high schools?
00:10:24Any answers?
00:10:25Three.
00:10:26What'd they say?
00:10:27Well, the first school didn't want me for a coach.
00:10:29The second school didn't want me for a coach.
00:10:31And the third school, they just didn't want me.
00:10:40Any mail for me?
00:10:41Five more letters.
00:10:42Business must be good.
00:10:43Let's open them.
00:10:49Pickwick College doesn't want any coaches.
00:10:52Bainbeard's either.
00:10:59Hard news says sorry.
00:11:01Western state.
00:11:03No soap.
00:11:07You got a job, brother.
00:11:09I have.
00:11:09What does it say?
00:11:12Listen to this.
00:11:14From the President of the United States.
00:11:17Greetings.
00:11:28He sure writes interesting letters.
00:11:30Oh, yes.
00:11:31Listen to this, Mildred.
00:11:33The other day, my commanding officer called me in and told me the good news.
00:11:38So I'm some kind of athletic director at last, even if it's for the army.
00:11:42Sounds like he's happy.
00:11:44And he looks good, too.
00:11:47In his new picture.
00:11:49And a lieutenant now.
00:11:50Well, that's a mighty fine job.
00:12:08Why can't this wait till later on?
00:12:10Dinner's almost ready.
00:12:11It'll only take a minute, Mom.
00:12:14That's just like you.
00:12:15The first thing on top is your glove.
00:12:16What are you going to do with it?
00:12:18I don't know.
00:12:19Don't know if I'll ever do anything with it again.
00:12:21More mail again.
00:12:23I bet you spent 50 bucks on stamps.
00:12:25If it gets me a job, it'll be worth it.
00:12:27Idaho Parley doesn't want any coaches.
00:12:30You could have guessed that.
00:12:33Hey.
00:12:35Wait a minute.
00:12:36What is it?
00:12:37A job.
00:12:39Not the president greeting me again.
00:12:41No, but you read it.
00:12:50Robinson, you're up next.
00:12:52Pick up the one you like and give it a ride.
00:12:54Yes, sir.
00:12:55Now batting for the Black Panthers.
00:12:57Jackie Robinson, shortstop.
00:13:03Just a minute, boy.
00:13:05This is a new boy, Samson.
00:13:06Take it real easy with him.
00:13:09Nice and easy.
00:13:10Let him hit it.
00:13:11Yeah.
00:13:12I'll do that little thing.
00:13:17Hey, Warren.
00:13:18This is right up for you.
00:13:20Easy, man.
00:13:21Throw it in.
00:13:22That's right.
00:13:23What?
00:13:24Let me help you up, Mr. Robinson.
00:13:27My goodness.
00:13:28I don't know what's wrong with that pitcher today.
00:13:31You hadn't ought to do that, Samson.
00:13:33You make this boy mad.
00:13:35Nice and easy, I said.
00:13:42Oh, what's wrong with that boy?
00:13:47He's incorrigible.
00:13:48That's what he is.
00:13:50Incorrigible.
00:13:51Right here now, man.
00:14:01Struck!
00:14:02And alive.
00:14:03You sure swing pretty.
00:14:11Hold it!
00:14:19You should have done that new boy.
00:14:21I thought we were going to be friends.
00:14:42You should have done that new boy.
00:14:42Why didn't you throw the ball right?
00:14:44You didn't give all ours.
00:14:55Hey, that's enough of that.
00:14:59How about shortening bread?
00:15:00Never mind about shortening bread.
00:15:02How about some ham and egg, Skipper?
00:15:03Ernie, that's a pretty good idea.
00:15:05Okay, we'll stop at the next drive-in.
00:15:13Is it always like this, sleeping on the bus?
00:15:18Most of the time.
00:15:19We sleep, we eat and we play ball.
00:15:22Then we get on our bus and do it all over again.
00:15:25You got a cigarette?
00:15:26I don't smoke.
00:15:27That Ernie, always begging cigarettes.
00:15:29I can't afford to buy them.
00:15:31Why not?
00:15:31Don't you get paid like the rest of us?
00:15:34Yeah, I get paid a little.
00:15:36I got a wife in Birmingham.
00:15:38I have to send her every buck.
00:15:39Got a new baby coming in a couple of weeks too.
00:15:42Sure wish I could be there.
00:15:44Well, why don't you take a week off and go?
00:15:46Can't. Haven't got the money.
00:15:47After what I send home, I just managed to make it to payday.
00:15:50You're breaking my heart.
00:15:52Here. Thanks, boy.
00:15:53Get back, get back, get back.
00:16:00Who's going in?
00:16:01New boy's turn.
00:16:03Rules and regulations.
00:16:04New boy always goes first.
00:16:06I guess that means you, Jackie.
00:16:08What will I have to do?
00:16:09Three things.
00:16:10See if we can eat inside.
00:16:13Two.
00:16:14See if we can wash up.
00:16:15Three.
00:16:17If we can't eat inside, see if they'll fix up sandwiches.
00:16:46Yeah, what is it?
00:16:48Sixteen of us outside on the bus.
00:16:50How's chances of getting something to eat?
00:16:53Well, I'm all alone here, Fred.
00:16:55I couldn't help you.
00:16:58How about some sandwiches?
00:16:59Could we have sandwiches?
00:17:02Well, I...
00:17:06How many of them did you say?
00:17:08Sixteen.
00:17:08Well, I can make you sixteen beef sandwiches
00:17:11and maybe the same in ham and egg.
00:17:13That'd do you?
00:17:13Swell.
00:17:15How about some fried potatoes on the side, Chef?
00:17:18Yeah.
00:17:18Take about twenty minutes.
00:17:20Thanks.
00:17:22Do you suppose we could wash you up a bit?
00:17:26Sorry, it's out of order.
00:17:42Say, Ernie.
00:17:43Yeah?
00:17:44When are they going to give me a contract with the team?
00:17:47Contract?
00:17:48Do you want to know about contracts with this team?
00:17:50Yes.
00:17:51Say, fellas.
00:17:52This guy wants to know about contracts.
00:17:54Contract?
00:17:55Fix you right up with the information.
00:17:57Yes, sir.
00:17:58Contract.
00:17:59Tell me about that boy.
00:18:01You want a contract with the Panthers?
00:18:03The first thing you got to do is borrow some money from the boss.
00:18:07Then you know you got a job until he gets paid back.
00:18:10If you can get in the lanyard and get us.
00:18:12Yeah.
00:18:12And you got to keep your eye on the grandstand.
00:18:14When you got a good day and a good crowd, that's a good time to hit him up.
00:18:17You owe him a week's salary.
00:18:19That means you got a one-week contract.
00:18:21When you're one for two, that means you got a two-week contract, sir.
00:18:24Possibly.
00:18:25Okay, you guys.
00:18:26Let's get up and get out of the field and get a little boy.
00:18:27Come on.
00:18:39Strike two!
00:18:43You're out!
00:18:45Well, that's a ball game.
00:18:47The boy that Robinson sure had a good day, didn't he?
00:18:50Sure did.
00:18:57Come on.
00:19:02Robinson!
00:19:04Robinson, can I see you?
00:19:05I'm Clyde Superfoot, of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
00:19:09I'd like to talk to you for a minute.
00:19:10What about?
00:19:11About you.
00:19:12Branch Rickey would like to see you.
00:19:14He would?
00:19:15Do you think you could get away for a day starting tonight?
00:19:18I guess so.
00:19:19Good.
00:19:20I'll take care of the tickets.
00:19:21Now, you meet me at the Union Station at 7 o'clock at the New York Gate.
00:19:26Is that okay?
00:19:26Sure. That's great.
00:19:32Hey, who's your friend?
00:19:33Scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
00:19:34Oh, sure.
00:19:35They signed me for the New York Aggies once.
00:19:37They were going to give me a bonus to pitch for the Red Sox.
00:19:39And then his keeper came.
00:19:41Dumb guy, I think that's funny.
00:19:43Yeah, you can say that again.
00:19:56Yes?
00:19:58Robinson, Clyde Suchman.
00:20:00Such what?
00:20:02Such what?
00:20:05Robinson, is that you in there?
00:20:07Coming.
00:20:16I don't understand this, Robinson.
00:20:18Don't you have a good mind or are you playing coy?
00:20:20I waited for you till I missed the train.
00:20:22What's the idea?
00:20:24You don't mean you're really with the Dodgers.
00:21:03You got a girl, Jackie?
00:21:06Well, I don't know.
00:21:08What do you mean, you don't know?
00:21:10Traveling around all the time and not riding as off as I should.
00:21:14I think I still have a girl.
00:21:16Good.
00:21:17You'll need one.
00:21:19You know why we brought you here?
00:21:21No, sir.
00:21:22Not exactly.
00:21:23But I heard you were starting a colored ball team.
00:21:25Is that it?
00:21:26No.
00:21:28You were brought here to play with the Brooklyn organization.
00:21:30Montreal, to start with.
00:21:37Me?
00:21:38Play for Montreal?
00:21:41I want to win pennants and we need ball players.
00:21:44The war set us back a little.
00:21:46So three years ago, the Brooklyn Dodger management decided to scout untapped sources of supply.
00:21:51Mexico, Cuba, all the Latin American countries, and our own country, too.
00:21:56That right, Clyde?
00:21:57From coast to coast.
00:21:59Yes.
00:22:00For players who can help us win.
00:22:02Many of the men we saw were good.
00:22:05Some had great promise, like you.
00:22:08You think you can do it, Jackie?
00:22:10Make good and organize baseball?
00:22:13I got the chance.
00:22:16There's more here than just playing.
00:22:18I wish it just meant runs and hits and errors.
00:22:21The things you can see in a box score.
00:22:24A box score.
00:22:26You know, a box score is really democratic, Jackie.
00:22:30It doesn't say how big you are or how your father voted in the last election or what church you
00:22:35attend.
00:22:36It just tells you what kind of a ball player you were that day.
00:22:41Well, isn't that what counts?
00:22:43It's all that ought to count.
00:22:45And maybe someday it's all that will count.
00:22:48That's why we brought you here.
00:22:50I want to see if we can make a start in that direction.
00:22:53It'll take a lot of courage.
00:22:56Yeah.
00:22:57It sure will.
00:22:59It might take more courage for the organization than for you, Jackie.
00:23:02Have you thought of that?
00:23:04I haven't thought of anything.
00:23:06It's all so sudden.
00:23:08It kind of hits me straight between the eyes.
00:23:10Just relax, boy.
00:23:12There's plenty of time.
00:23:13Pull up a chair.
00:23:14Make yourself comfortable.
00:23:15Thanks.
00:23:18We're tackling something big here, Jackie.
00:23:21If we fail, no one will try again for 20 years.
00:23:25But if we succeed...
00:23:26If we succeed, Brooklyn will win a pennant.
00:23:29Yes, that too.
00:23:31But we're dealing with rights here.
00:23:33The right of any American to play baseball.
00:23:35The American game.
00:23:37You think he's our boy, Glenn?
00:23:40Well, he can run, he can hit, and he can field.
00:23:43But can he take it?
00:23:45That I don't know.
00:23:47What do you think, Jackie?
00:23:49Well, I can try.
00:23:50Think you've got guts enough to play the game no matter what happens?
00:23:53They'll shout insults at you.
00:23:55They'll come into your spikes first.
00:23:56They'll throw at your head.
00:23:58They've been throwing at my head for a long time, Mr. Rickey.
00:24:01Suppose I'm a player in the heat of an important game.
00:24:04Suppose I collide with you at second base, and when I get up I say, you...
00:24:07You dirty black so-and-so.
00:24:10What do you do?
00:24:12Mr. Rickey, do you want a ball player who's afraid to fight back?
00:24:15I want a ball player with guts enough not to fight back.
00:24:19You've got to do this job with base hits, stolen bases, and fielding ground balls, Jackie.
00:24:23Nothing else.
00:24:24Now I'm playing against you in a World Series, and I'm hot-headed.
00:24:27I want to win this game.
00:24:28So I go in and use spikes first.
00:24:29You jab the ball in my ribs, and the umpire says out.
00:24:32High flare!
00:24:32All I can see is your black face.
00:24:34That black face right over me.
00:24:36So I fall off and punch you right in the cheek.
00:24:39What do you do?
00:24:41Mr. Rickey, I've got two cheeks.
00:24:46Good.
00:24:49You under contract with the Black Panthers?
00:24:51No, sir. We don't have contracts.
00:24:53Any agreement, verbal or written, about how long you'll play with?
00:24:55No, sir. None at all.
00:24:57All right.
00:24:58I'll give you a contract before you leave.
00:25:00Don't sign it right away. This is a very important move.
00:25:04Think it over carefully.
00:25:06Is your mother living?
00:25:09Yes, sir. She's in California.
00:25:11Call her up.
00:25:12Ask her advice.
00:25:13We'll pay the phone bill.
00:25:15Yes, sir.
00:25:15And Jackie, remember one thing.
00:25:18No matter what happens on the ball field, you can't fight back.
00:25:22That's going to be the hard part.
00:25:24You can't fight back.
00:25:29Ellen, get Jackie Robinson's home in Pasadena, California.
00:25:34It's Sycamore 7 6459.
00:25:47Hello?
00:25:49Who?
00:25:51From New York?
00:25:53Yes.
00:25:54Put him on, please.
00:25:55It's Jackie.
00:25:56I'm calling from New York.
00:25:57Why is he calling?
00:25:58Is something wrong with him?
00:25:59Just a minute, Mark.
00:26:01Hello?
00:26:03Yes.
00:26:04Jackie?
00:26:05How are you, kid?
00:26:07Are you okay?
00:26:09He's okay, Mom.
00:26:11You want to talk to Mom?
00:26:12Oh, sure.
00:26:13She's right here.
00:26:14He wants to talk to you, Mom.
00:26:16Hello, Jackie.
00:26:18You all right?
00:26:20You got a chance for what?
00:26:22Well, I can be the first Negro to ever play an organized baseball, Mom, if I'm good enough.
00:26:28If I can make the grade, only I'll be taking a big chance.
00:26:32Mac, they want Jackie to play baseball for Brooklyn.
00:26:38They do?
00:26:40Yeah.
00:26:41Well, Jackie, I don't know what kind of advice to give you, only...
00:26:46Only there must be churches in a big town like New York.
00:26:49Well, why don't you go find yourself a church and talk to the minister and see what he has to
00:26:55say.
00:26:56And Jackie, any time you have a real problem, listen to God a while.
00:27:05Here, talk to your brother Mac.
00:27:08He knows more about baseball than I do.
00:27:20Come in.
00:27:23Are you Reverend Carter?
00:27:24That's right, son.
00:27:25My name's Robinson, Jackie Robinson.
00:27:28Glad to know you, Mr. Robinson.
00:27:29I need some advice.
00:27:31Important advice.
00:27:32Well, suppose we sit down and talk this thing over.
00:27:35You are new to this part of the city, Mr. Robinson?
00:27:38I'm from California.
00:27:40I came to New York yesterday to see Branch Rickey.
00:27:43Rickey?
00:27:44Do you mean, uh, Mr. Rickey the baseball man?
00:27:47Yes.
00:27:48I'm a ball player, Reverend.
00:27:50I've just learned that the Brooklyn Dodgers have been scouting Negro ball players for a couple of years.
00:27:55And Mr. Rickey thinks I'm good enough to...
00:27:58Well, Reverend, it just means that a colored man will be able to play on the same field with a
00:28:02white man for the first time.
00:28:04Uh, who goes out to these ballparks, Jackie?
00:28:07Just white men?
00:28:08No.
00:28:10Anybody can buy a ticket, Reverend.
00:28:12Colored or white.
00:28:13Tell me, Jackie.
00:28:15What do you think would actually happen if you were to get out on a white baseball field?
00:28:23I don't know.
00:28:25They might call me names.
00:28:27They might even beat me up.
00:28:29I don't mean what would happen to you, Jackie.
00:28:31I mean, what would happen to the colored people?
00:28:36Might start fights.
00:28:37Might even start a riot.
00:28:41That's true.
00:28:43On the other hand,
00:28:44every step forward for our people has started a fight somewhere.
00:28:49For the time being, anyhow.
00:28:51This is a big thing you have to decide, Jackie.
00:28:55And not just for you alone.
00:28:57It's a big thing for the whole colored people.
00:29:01I know.
00:29:03That's why I came to you for help.
00:29:06A great deal depends upon you, Jackie.
00:29:10What kind of a man you are.
00:29:12I suppose upon what kind of a ball player you are, too.
00:29:17Well, I don't know what kind of a man I am, Reverend, but I think I'm a pretty good ball
00:29:21player.
00:29:23It might help.
00:29:26Yes, it might help a great deal.
00:29:30Maybe God will help a little, too.
00:29:49It's wonderful to see you, especially when I had almost given you up.
00:29:53I should have written off now, but you know how it is.
00:29:56You keep waiting for good news, something worth writing about.
00:30:00And then when this big chance came, I didn't want to tell you about it.
00:30:04I wanted to be sure I had the contract signed and everything.
00:30:07You know, sometimes when you wait for real good news, you wait forever.
00:30:11I guess so.
00:30:13I don't want to wait forever.
00:30:15Look, let's sit a minute.
00:30:17Let's talk it over.
00:30:19All right.
00:30:19It's going to be real tough for a while.
00:30:21A lot of people don't want an equal in baseball.
00:30:24I know.
00:30:26As soon as I make it stick, I'll come for you.
00:30:29We'll get married.
00:30:30No, not after you've made good, Jackie.
00:30:33Now, before you start.
00:30:34I can't let you do that, Ray.
00:30:36I've got to go south for spring training.
00:30:39I'll have to face that.
00:30:40It might not be easy.
00:30:41It'll be easier if we face it together.
00:30:44There won't be any picnic.
00:30:45You marry me now, and you're asking for trouble.
00:30:48All right, Jackie.
00:30:50I'll ask for it.
00:31:26You're Jackie Robinson?
00:31:28Yes.
00:31:28I am.
00:31:28This is my wife.
00:31:30Glad to know you. My name's Gaines.
00:31:32I'm an attorney here.
00:31:34Mr. Ricky asked me if I could help arrange accommodations for you.
00:31:37He did?
00:31:38Sent a man down about a month ago to look up a place for you to stay.
00:31:42I won.
00:31:43That's very nice of you, Mr. Gaines.
00:31:44Oh, not at all. We're proud to have you.
00:31:46Your bags will be in the checkroom. My car's right up front.
00:32:27Hey, Robinson.
00:32:27I would like to ask you a few questions.
00:32:29Do you think there's going to be any trouble?
00:32:32He means trouble with the other players.
00:32:34Trouble?
00:32:35The only trouble I'm worried about is ground balls to my right.
00:32:38Do you think you're good enough to make the Dodgers?
00:32:40Don't know if I can make Montreal.
00:32:42Better concentrate on that first.
00:32:44What are you going to do if the pitcher throws a dust at your head?
00:32:46Same as you do. Duck.
00:32:50What are you sports writers doing up at this hour of the morning?
00:32:53Walking in your sleep?
00:32:54We thought we'd take a look at your new ball player, Clay.
00:32:57We'll take a look at him playing ball, not flapping his mouth with you guys.
00:33:01All right, Robinson. Get out there. Throw a few. Loosen up your arm.
00:33:03Yes, Mr. Hopper.
00:33:06Mr. Hopper, do you think baseball will accept the college second baseman?
00:33:13First, let's see if I will.
00:33:14Keep going.
00:33:21Get toíano.
00:33:30Get to çekeno.
00:33:54Let's have one.
00:34:10Let's go.
00:34:12Let's go!
00:34:34Do you want me to take the first one, Mr. Hopper?
00:34:36Or shall I hit away?
00:34:37Use your own judgment, Shorty.
00:34:39How's that high elbow coming?
00:34:41Do you keep you from hitting under the ball?
00:34:42Don't seem to work out like it should, Mr. Hopper.
00:34:44Of course, I don't pop to the infield anymore.
00:34:46I just fly into center field.
00:34:50Shorty's got a problem.
00:34:51He's built too close to the ground.
00:34:52But I got a new idea, Mr. Hopper.
00:34:54When I take the bat back, I'm gonna hold it up like this.
00:34:57That way, I ought to get come through a half inch higher.
00:34:59Set her up.
00:35:00That's me. I ought to hit right on the line now.
00:35:03You watch.
00:35:07Let's march!
00:35:07All right, Jack.
00:35:08Set up.
00:35:08All right.
00:35:28Get out of there!
00:35:34Get out of there, Ed!
00:35:37Get out of there, Ed!
00:35:43All right, gang!
00:35:53Thatta boy! They're coming up!
00:36:01Out!
00:36:09Let's get this guy out of here!
00:36:15All right, Eddie!
00:36:16Come on, Eddie!
00:36:17All right, Eddie!
00:36:27He got it!
00:36:30He can hit like that, too.
00:36:47All right, Eddie!
00:36:49Come on, Eddie!
00:36:52Come on, Eddie!
00:36:52Come on, Eddie!
00:36:54You're all tired, Eddie!
00:36:56All right, get off!
00:36:57Get the ball in here!
00:36:58Get the ball in here!
00:36:59That's the one, that's the one!
00:37:01Bow!
00:37:02All right!
00:37:03Okay!
00:37:05All right, guys!
00:37:07Let the ball for you now, thank you!
00:37:08Have to make you up!
00:37:09Okay!
00:37:19You get that?
00:37:21I got it!
00:37:29All right, Hank!
00:37:31This guy's got a hole in his back!
00:37:32Let's get him out of here!
00:37:39Get your right!
00:37:40Get your right!
00:37:41Look!
00:37:51Come on, Hanky!
00:37:55He's out!
00:37:56No other human being could have made that play.
00:38:00Mr. Ricky, do you really think he is a human being?
00:38:11You think Jackie's gonna like these?
00:38:14Knitting, knitting.
00:38:17Seems like that's all you ever do, Mrs. Robbins.
00:38:20Why don't you walk downtown once in a while?
00:38:23Or maybe take a ride to the beach?
00:38:24I'm afraid to.
00:38:26Afraid?
00:38:27No one's going there or two here.
00:38:30I'm not so sure.
00:38:32The last time I took a bus, I heard some white men talking about Jackie.
00:38:37About what they'd do if a colored man tried to play on this city's team.
00:38:42Oh, you know.
00:38:43They talk big.
00:38:45But they don't usually mean it.
00:38:47Maybe they don't usually.
00:38:50But sometimes they do.
00:38:52And some of the things they said gave me cold chills.
00:39:07You can they catch me soon!
00:39:19Come on!
00:39:20Come on!
00:39:20Come on!
00:39:20Come on!
00:39:20Come on, get a key!
00:39:21Come on!
00:39:22Come on!
00:39:22Have we got any?
00:39:23Come on!
00:39:24Come on, we broke the key!
00:39:25Oh, Mr. Ricky!
00:39:26Look at this!
00:39:32Come on!
00:39:33Come on, C'mon!
00:39:33Come on, C'mon!
00:39:36Come on!
00:39:41Back in the bus, boys.
00:39:43Back in the bus.
00:39:53Come on, Jackie.
00:39:54We don't want trouble.
00:39:55I'm the cause of trouble, Mr. Rickey.
00:39:58Maybe you'd like to call it off.
00:39:59Maybe you'd rather I went back to the Panthers.
00:40:02Not on your life.
00:40:03We started this together, boy, and we'll finish it together.
00:40:06We'll complete the training season, and you'll complete it with us.
00:40:10Come on.
00:40:11And ladies and gentlemen, believe me, it should be the best welterweight battle in the past ten years.
00:40:17And sports fans, all is not so quiet on the baseball front as officials would have us believe.
00:40:23While there are no known organized movements against Montreal's Jackie Robinson,
00:40:27it is a fact that some cities are expressing pretty strong sentiments.
00:40:31So strong, in fact, that I hear the International League president, Shaughnessy,
00:40:35will make a significant visit to the Brooklyn Dodger office in the immediate future.
00:40:40Perhaps tomorrow.
00:40:42And now, too, answer some mail as time allows.
00:40:52Branch, I've got to talk to you.
00:40:54Well, go ahead and talk.
00:40:57Branch, the season opens in Jersey City tomorrow.
00:41:00Oh, glad you told me.
00:41:02And this is your last chance to avoid a big mistake.
00:41:06Now, suppose you let me decide that.
00:41:08You'll break up the whole International League playing that colored boy.
00:41:12I've had letters, phone calls.
00:41:14I've even polled all the sports writers.
00:41:16What do the sports writers have to say?
00:41:18Jim Flanagan thinks you're even hurting the Negroes.
00:41:20This will stir up a lot of trouble.
00:41:22There'll be black and white fights about it all over the country,
00:41:25and you'll be sorry you ever started it.
00:41:29Frank, I've spent my whole life in baseball,
00:41:31and I've always been proud of that
00:41:33because I've always thought baseball was a fine game, a clean game.
00:41:36I've always thought it had a good influence on the American people,
00:41:39on the kids growing up.
00:41:41I've always thought baseball taught fair play and sportsmanship.
00:41:45But if what you say is true, then I've been all wrong.
00:41:48My whole life's been wrong.
00:41:49Wasted.
00:41:51I'll tell you what I'll do with you.
00:41:54I'll go out to Jersey City with you tomorrow,
00:41:56and we'll sit in a front box.
00:41:58And if anybody's got any rocks to throw,
00:42:01they can throw them at me.
00:42:17Are you nervous?
00:42:18A little, maybe.
00:42:20But I won't be when we get on the field.
00:42:22Another hour and it'll begin.
00:42:24Would you rather I didn't go?
00:42:25No, you might as well come to the game.
00:42:28If I'm going to fall on my face,
00:42:29it might as well be in front of you, too.
00:42:31You won't fall down, darling.
00:42:32I won't if trying will do it.
00:42:34You think I can run?
00:42:35And wait till you see me run this afternoon.
00:42:37I can't break in with just a scratch hit and a fielder's choice.
00:42:40I've got to set them on their ear.
00:42:42I've got to be the best ball player they've ever seen anywhere.
00:42:47That's the spirit.
00:42:55And that's a fact, ladies and gentlemen.
00:42:5625,000 people are here to see baseball history made today
00:43:01at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City
00:43:03for this, the opening of the 1946 International League season.
00:43:07Even though the ball game has started,
00:43:09excited fans are still crowding in to this huge concrete horseshoe.
00:43:13It's a holiday throng, eager and expectant,
00:43:17but with one thing in mind.
00:43:20What will the highly publicized Jackie Robinson do today?
00:43:24Will organized baseball's first Negro player make good,
00:43:28or will he fail?
00:43:31You fans out there, what do you think?
00:43:36One other part by the way.
00:43:38Hold their hands.
00:43:41All your doors there.
00:43:43One other part by the way.
00:43:49There you go.
00:43:52Come on, there.
00:43:54Come on, there.
00:43:56Come on.
00:43:57Come on!
00:43:59Come on, Bill!
00:44:00Come on, Bill!
00:44:03Come on, Bill!
00:44:13Well, I guess he's got the jitters.
00:44:16Well, anybody may have heard.
00:44:18That was an awfully easy chance.
00:44:24Well, as the poet said,
00:44:26to err is human.
00:44:28And Jackie Robinson proved himself
00:44:30indeed a mortal man
00:44:32in the first inning by booting that easy play
00:44:34permitting Jersey City's first run.
00:44:36But the game is young fans
00:44:38and so is Jackie.
00:44:41Come on, Bill!
00:44:48Come on, Bill!
00:44:49Come on, Bill!
00:44:52Come on, Bill!
00:44:52What do you say, Dick?
00:44:54Jackie?
00:45:00Go up next.
00:45:01Get on deck.
00:45:02Yes, sir.
00:45:10Come on, Bill!
00:45:14Come on, Bill!
00:45:19Come on, Bill!
00:45:24Play ball!
00:45:33And now here's the moment
00:45:35everyone's been waiting for.
00:45:37This big crowd is silent and tense
00:45:39as Jackie stands there at the plate.
00:45:41He's a right-handed batter, you know.
00:45:43Stands well back in the box,
00:45:44feet wide apart.
00:45:46Very good form.
00:45:47And every eye in this stadium
00:45:49is on that boy.
00:45:51Anxious.
00:45:52As Jackie stands there
00:45:53waiting for that first pitch.
00:46:08Debate.
00:46:11Criminal goes.
00:46:13End got up for, like, Jack.
00:46:13Let's do it.
00:46:14Anyone else?
00:46:15Yeah.
00:46:22Ephraim!
00:46:34accumulated so much
00:46:36pressuring every day,
00:46:50Come on, Jack, get right here!
00:47:16Fight one.
00:47:38Fight!
00:47:39Fight!
00:47:40Fight!
00:47:41Fight!
00:47:42Fight!
00:47:43Come on in.
00:47:44Good morning, Robinson.
00:47:53Alright, here we go.
00:47:54Come on.
00:47:55Fight!
00:48:06Hey!
00:48:08Damn it!
00:48:38Yes, sir, folks.
00:48:39It's a historic day, but a sad one for Jersey.
00:48:42There's two out in the ninth, and the score is 14 to 1,
00:48:45with a single Jersey City put out left.
00:48:48There it goes.
00:48:49It's a hard pounder to Robinson's left.
00:48:51It'll be close, but he stabs it.
00:48:54Jackie goes to first for the out, and the ball game is over.
00:48:57What a memorable day, especially for Jackie Robinson,
00:49:01and for the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey.
00:49:05That's the greatest first day any ball player ever had.
00:49:08Man, oh, man.
00:49:09Four hits, including a homer, two stolen bases,
00:49:11and scored twice on blocks.
00:49:13Yes, he played a great game, but...
00:49:16Oh, that's the trouble with you, Frank.
00:49:18There you go, butting again.
00:49:20No, but you know where Montreal is playing next week, Branch.
00:49:23And they don't like colored people there.
00:49:25Here.
00:49:26Look at this.
00:49:29Sports editor of the morning paper sent it to me.
00:49:43The End
00:49:43Ice cold beer. 25.
00:49:46Hey, Frank, give me a beer.
00:49:47Yeah, me too.
00:49:48How many all together?
00:49:49Make it three.
00:49:50I see you got a shine plan here this afternoon.
00:49:52Not me, brother.
00:49:53I ain't got him. You got him.
00:49:55I got him?
00:49:56Far. I don't even live here.
00:49:57Where are you from?
00:49:58I'm Brooklyn. I drive a truck down here once a week.
00:50:00Well, when you get back home, tell Ricky that you spoke with a couple of friends of his nigger ball
00:50:06player.
00:50:07Yeah. Friends.
00:50:08Don't tell me about it. I just don't like shines.
00:50:12Yeah?
00:50:13Have we anything to you?
00:50:15No.
00:50:16Oh, I thought you was one of the boys.
00:50:17One of what boys?
00:50:19Shut up, Spike.
00:50:20Oh, what's that diff?
00:50:22We got a little club, kind of. Branches all over the country.
00:50:24Yeah, when they get up, we kind of put them in that place.
00:50:29Look what's coming.
00:50:32This scene is taken.
00:50:35I'm sorry.
00:50:45Hey, maybe you'd like to come with us after the game.
00:50:47Shut up, Spike.
00:50:49Where are you going after the ball game?
00:50:50The Lodge decided to send a delegation.
00:50:53That's us.
00:50:54You haven't ought to tell anybody.
00:50:56This guy's all right.
00:50:58We're going to call on Robinson as soon as the game is over.
00:51:01We don't like them boys playing ball around here.
00:51:04Not in this town.
00:51:11Robinson!
00:51:18Get out there, Robbie.
00:51:24Get out there.
00:51:31Get out of there.
00:51:33Hey, Bobby.
00:51:34Cy none of the boys.
00:51:35Get out ali.
00:51:42Help me.
00:51:44Get out of there.
00:51:45You can get more than...
00:51:46I can get more than...
00:52:12Let's go, darling, quick.
00:52:15What's the matter?
00:52:16Where are you going, black boys?
00:52:19Go on, black boy.
00:52:20We're the welcoming committee.
00:52:22You'd better get out of here.
00:52:23No, Jackie.
00:52:23Go on.
00:52:24It just makes it tougher having you here.
00:52:26We want to have a talk with you.
00:52:28We don't want you in this town, see?
00:52:33No matter what happens on the ball field, you can't fight back.
00:52:37That's going to be the hard part.
00:52:39You can't fight back.
00:52:43You better not play tomorrow, get me?
00:52:45Get me?
00:52:46Get me.
00:52:48Are you having any trouble, Jackie?
00:52:50No.
00:52:51No trouble.
00:52:52We'll just walk to the bus with you.
00:52:54Out of my way, you.
00:52:58Nice game today, Jackie.
00:53:00Thanks.
00:53:00Thanks a lot.
00:53:12Shorty.
00:53:13Yes, Mr. Harper.
00:53:14I'll leave a present for you.
00:53:14A present?
00:53:15Yeah, here.
00:53:16Just what you need.
00:53:17See, Mr. Harper, that's awful nice of you.
00:53:20New pair of shoes.
00:53:21Elevator shoes.
00:53:23Add an inch to you.
00:53:24Keep you from hitting under the ball.
00:53:25Say, that's wonderful.
00:53:26That's a great idea.
00:53:28Thanks a lot, Mr. Harper.
00:53:29Sure hope they'll work.
00:53:40Watch that, Shorty.
00:53:41Remember, you're an inch taller now.
00:53:43Forgot all about it.
00:53:44Batter up!
00:53:45That's me.
00:53:45Let's go.
00:53:54Bye-bye.
00:53:56Oh, my God.
00:54:31Oh, my God.
00:54:31You're out.
00:54:45Hey there, big boy. What are you all doing on a white man's field?
00:54:49You better get your carcass out of there before you get rolled out.
00:54:53Here's a brother of yours, Jackie.
00:54:55Why don't you take him along? He wants to get into baseball, too.
00:54:58Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
00:55:00Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
00:55:32Hey, Jackie!
00:55:35Give me a shine!
00:55:43Hey, Sambo, do you want to wash your dirty ears?
00:55:48Oh, liver lips!
00:55:49We saw some frelly teeth!
00:55:51Hey, Jackie, where'd you get that Marcel?
00:55:53Max, go back and clean up!
00:56:07We'll exercise our option on clobber.
00:56:10Right, right clobber.
00:56:14Yeah.
00:56:15And that's all.
00:56:17And that's all?
00:56:19Good.
00:56:20That's fine.
00:56:22Then Robinson stays in Montreal.
00:56:24For the time being.
00:56:28Brooklyn and Montreal will train together in Panama.
00:56:31We'll have plenty of chance to see everybody.
00:56:36Well, you do what you think best, Branch.
00:56:39But I'll tell you this.
00:56:40We've had record attendance all over our league this year.
00:56:43And if there's any possible way of leaving Robinson and Montreal another season...
00:56:48Well, I think maybe we might.
00:56:51A boy like that ought to play every day.
00:56:55And we've got Burwell at second base.
00:56:58That's fine, Branch.
00:57:00That's wonderful.
00:57:01All our fans want him.
00:57:03So, I think they're making too much out of an ordinary ball player.
00:57:07Don't you think, Clay?
00:57:09He'll have led the league in hitting.
00:57:12Oh, minor league.
00:57:14And we won the Little World Series, too.
00:57:17Oh, I'm not complaining, Clay.
00:57:19It's just that I don't want to burden a fair ball player with the responsibilities of a superman.
00:57:25Of course, Jackie might hit big league pitching.
00:57:29But suppose he did come up.
00:57:31How do we know that he could...
00:57:34Well, that he wouldn't get out of hand.
00:57:37How do we know...
00:57:38Mr. Rickey!
00:57:41Mr. Rickey, you don't have to worry none about that boy.
00:57:44He is the greatest competitor I ever saw.
00:57:47And what's more, he's a gentleman.
00:57:50Wow.
00:57:52Glad to hear it.
00:58:06Bring it right here, right through here to me.
00:58:09Right in the face with it.
00:58:11That's close, but not close enough.
00:58:14Here it is, right here.
00:58:16Right there, right through the middle.
00:58:19That's close enough.
00:58:20Right right back.
00:58:31You made up your mind on Robinson yet?
00:58:34I think we let him stay in Montreal another year.
00:58:36That's great with me, Mr. Rickey, but I think you're making a mistake.
00:58:39We got Burwell on second, remember.
00:58:41Burwell or no Burwell.
00:58:43Besides, it cost trouble.
00:58:45Trouble?
00:58:46Yeah.
00:58:47There's that petition, you know.
00:58:48Petition?
00:58:49What petition?
00:58:50Well, some of the boys...
00:58:52Half a dozen of your Brooklyn players have signed a petition.
00:58:55They don't want Robinson on your ball club.
00:58:57They don't, huh?
00:58:59Get hold of the men that signed that petition and bring them to my room at 8 o'clock tonight.
00:59:02You understand?
00:59:03Yes, sir.
00:59:07Did you call yourselves Americans?
00:59:11Who's your leader?
00:59:14Who started this?
00:59:17Tony, you signed that petition.
00:59:19Do you want to deny Robinson the right to play baseball?
00:59:22I just don't want to be on the same team with him.
00:59:25Were you born in the United States?
00:59:26Yes, sir.
00:59:27And your parents, where were they born?
00:59:28My father was born in Italy.
00:59:30And your mother?
00:59:30She was born in Italy, too.
00:59:32They came to America before you were born.
00:59:34Yeah.
00:59:34And your father, what did he work at when he first came to this country?
00:59:37On the railroad, he was a laborer.
00:59:39Your mother, did she work too?
00:59:41She, uh, she worked in a shirt factory.
00:59:44Your father was an immigrant laborer.
00:59:46Did anybody get up a petition to keep him from working on the railroad?
00:59:50Not that I know of.
00:59:52Did anybody try to stop your mother from working in the shirt factory?
00:59:58Your parents came to this country from Italy and were allowed to work as free people.
01:00:01And yet you, a child and beneficiary of that freedom,
01:00:04want to deny the same opportunity to an American whose parents and grandparents and great-grandparents have been in this
01:00:09country for 200 years.
01:00:11Is that right?
01:00:17How about you, Dolby?
01:00:19Would you have the courage to strip to the waist and tell Robinson that to his face, here, behind closed
01:00:23doors?
01:00:25Tell him to his face that he can't play on the same ball team with you.
01:00:28Tell him you're not going to let him earn his living as a ball player.
01:00:32Answer me, sir.
01:00:34Mr. Rickey, I wasn't thinking.
01:00:37I didn't think.
01:00:38And that, sir, explains why your teammates call you Iron Head.
01:00:44Yes, sir.
01:00:47Carvin, you've been in baseball a long time.
01:00:50Do you want to play on the Dodgers with Robinson?
01:00:53No, sir, I don't.
01:00:54Will you play with Robinson?
01:00:58I'd rather not, sir.
01:00:59Would you like to have your contract transferred to another club?
01:01:03Yes, sir, I would.
01:01:04I may accommodate you, sir.
01:01:07All right, men.
01:01:09I respect your right to petition.
01:01:12But I do question and I will fight any petition that denies any American the right to earn his living
01:01:17in the game that is supposed to represent the democratic principles of sportsmanship and fair play.
01:01:22Do you understand me?
01:01:24Yes, sir.
01:01:25Yes, sir.
01:01:26Yes, sir.
01:01:27That's all for tonight.
01:01:31Your suits are in your lockers.
01:01:35There's a ball game tomorrow.
01:01:38I hope I'll see you there.
01:01:42In uniform.
01:01:46No, no, no.
01:01:47Here we go.
01:01:51There we go.
01:01:55There we go.
01:01:56Jackie.
01:01:59Yes, sir.
01:02:00Jackie, Montreal is starting a 12 game series with the Dodgers.
01:02:04Yes, sir.
01:02:04Take this. During that series, I want you to play first base for Montreal.
01:02:10First base? Mr. Rickey, I've never played first base.
01:02:13We're protected at second base, Jackie. We've got Burwell.
01:02:17Brooklyn can use a good first baseman.
01:02:20Oh, I see.
01:02:22Go out there and show them. Run their legs off.
01:02:25Yes, sir. I sure will.
01:02:32Oh, boy, what's right for you now?
01:02:35Oh, boy, now, come on.
01:02:39Oh, boy, now, come on up.
01:02:43Get him out of there.
01:02:45Take it, Jackie.
01:02:49Take it, Jackie.
01:02:55Fine play.
01:03:01Come on, Al.
01:03:04Come on, lefty cowboy.
01:03:14You're up.
01:03:16How great play.
01:03:18Yeah, but a little dangerous.
01:03:20I think I'll move over to the Brooklyn side.
01:03:30You said you wanted to keep Robinson off the Brooklyn team, didn't you?
01:03:33Yes, sir.
01:03:34Then why do you keep feeding him those big fat ones?
01:03:36Fat ones? I ain't feeding him no fat ones.
01:03:39No, then how'd he get three hits off you?
01:03:41Just lucky.
01:03:42All right, Carpenter. He's up first in this inning.
01:03:45If you still want to keep him off the Brooklyn team, I'll tell you how you can do it.
01:03:48Strike him out.
01:03:49Okay, watch me.
01:03:53Play ball!
01:03:59Four to one!
01:04:01Four to one!
01:04:01That's the way to go.
01:04:02That's the way to go.
01:04:05One.
01:04:11One.
01:04:14Five.
01:04:15One.
01:04:15One.
01:04:16One.
01:04:17One.
01:04:19Two.
01:04:20Two.
01:04:21One.
01:04:23Two.
01:04:24The game's started.
01:04:26Hey, Barney, win this game and they'll give you a great big kiss!
01:04:30Oh, what's the matter with you guys? You think I don't mean it?
01:04:34Sit down!
01:04:35Hey, Robinson! We're not going to make the hot of where you belong!
01:04:39Come on!
01:04:40What did you just say, Robinson?
01:04:42Come on, let's go!
01:04:43Come on, let's go!
01:04:51Greetings from Ebbets Field.
01:04:53They call it big league baseball, folks.
01:04:55Because you've got to be bigger and better to stay up here.
01:04:59That's the problem confronting Jackie Robinson at this very minute
01:05:02as he goes to bat for the first time in a big league game.
01:05:05Oh, yes, I know he's done all right in training.
01:05:08I've seen the papers, too.
01:05:10But that was only practice.
01:05:12From now on, it's for keeps.
01:05:15There's a little man upstairs in the press box,
01:05:17who's known, among other things, as the official scorer.
01:05:21He watches like a hawk.
01:05:23He marks down everything.
01:05:25He'll make a mark for every move that Jackie Robinson makes,
01:05:28good or bad.
01:05:30And not only the official scorer's eyes are on the Negro rookie,
01:05:33the whole world is waiting.
01:05:35Everybody wants to know if Branch Rickey has made a mistake.
01:05:38Will they be able to say,
01:05:41I told you so?
01:05:42Let's see.
01:05:43I told you so.
01:05:45I told you.
01:05:46To the Untersuch.
01:05:47No!
01:05:58No!
01:05:59No!
01:06:00No!
01:06:00No!
01:06:03No!
01:06:04No!
01:06:05No!
01:06:05We're here!
01:06:07Wait!
01:06:08Sorry!
01:06:20He made it! He made it! He made it! He got a scrimple!
01:06:24So what? What do you mean, so what?
01:06:47You'll lose your tightness in a few days. It's just nerves, that's all.
01:06:51I just can't get on to shifting my feet. I missed the bag completely today in the third inning.
01:06:56They only let you play second base where you belong.
01:06:59We've got Burrell at second base. First is where they need me.
01:07:03But if you can't get on to it, honey, and it worries you...
01:07:05It's got me worried, all right, and it's got me where I'm not hitting either.
01:07:09Anyhow, you're still the best base runner. They can't take that away from you.
01:07:12Yeah, but you can't steal first.
01:07:15Ow! What have you got in those hands? Steel springs?
01:07:18They're nurse's hands, remember?
01:07:20Well, they better nurse me out of this slump, or Mr. Ricky will be looking for a new boy.
01:07:28Oh, Jackie, don't wait till you feel the bag under your foot. Do it all in one motion.
01:07:32I just can't seem to get the hang of it.
01:07:34Try now.
01:07:40That's worse.
01:07:42Here, let me show you how.
01:07:44You almost had it last time. When you missed the bag, you kicked back for it like this.
01:07:50Here, you try it.
01:07:52Thanks.
01:07:59That's the idea. All you have to do is practice now.
01:08:29There you go.
01:08:55All right.
01:08:57All right, bring it in out there. Come on.
01:09:01Here we go.
01:09:03Come on, baby.
01:09:04Come on, baby.
01:09:05Come on, baby.
01:09:07Come on, baby.
01:09:08Come on, baby.
01:09:09There it is.
01:09:10There it is.
01:09:12Right here.
01:09:13And nothing.
01:09:13There it is.
01:09:15What happened to you?
01:09:22What happened to you?
01:09:24Well, keep your fingers crossed, folks.
01:09:26It may be that the rookie Jackie Robinson is a big league ball player after all.
01:09:30But he had us all worried, didn't he?
01:09:32Going to the plate 19 straight times without a hit.
01:09:35But the pendulum can swing both ways.
01:09:37And it may be that Jackie has started on a hitting streak now.
01:09:40Well, in baseball, it's not who or what you are, but can you play the game?
01:09:46Jackie Robinson sure is planned.
01:09:55Well, Dalby, he's hitting again.
01:09:57Yeah.
01:09:58We might win the tennis now.
01:10:18You're out of the keep, Kelly.
01:10:20Why?
01:10:21Knock me down!
01:10:24Get through Spike to come charged, hop, guys, reach, sight and intersect.
01:10:27That was an accident.
01:10:28So is this an accident.
01:10:29They're all accidents.
01:10:31Let's get out there.
01:10:33It's time to get on, face.
01:10:35Watch out for Spike.
01:10:36Go on, get off the field.
01:10:37Maybe you better get Rodneyston off the field.
01:10:39Yeah, get them off.
01:10:40Get them out of here.
01:10:41Anybody here looking for a little argument?
01:10:43Yes, I am.
01:10:44You're out of the game, too.
01:10:46Me?
01:10:47Yes, you.
01:10:48Hey, what's that big idea, you dirty!
01:10:51You've been on me all the season!
01:10:52Come on, let's get on!
01:10:54You heard me!
01:10:56Come on, get out! Play ball!
01:11:07Come on, Jack! Come on, Jack!
01:11:09Go ahead, go on!
01:11:20Come on, Jack!
01:11:37Hey, Mike!
01:11:40What's happened to my clothes?
01:11:42I got them over here. Come here, I'll show them to you.
01:11:46I got a marker for you!
01:11:49Thanks!
01:12:13Well, the Brooklyn Dodgers really are pouring it on now.
01:12:15They're up at bat with one run behind in the ninth inning.
01:12:19And Brooklyn Hearts today have skipped more beats than an absent-minded policeman.
01:12:23Well, this boy has set fire to the league since mid-season when he hit safely in 21 straight games.
01:12:28Missing the league record by Watson.
01:12:30He's laid down 42 successful bunts, a prodigious number.
01:12:34He's a cinch to be voted the rookie of the year incidentally.
01:12:38Now we've got a runner on second, the tying run.
01:12:41And Jackie Robinson is at the plate.
01:12:43He can't buck now.
01:12:44He's got to hit straight away.
01:12:46Two out.
01:12:47I have him!
01:12:49I have him!
01:12:50Come in with it!
01:12:51I have him!
01:12:52That's a glove, huh?
01:12:53Oh, come on.
01:12:55Get up there and hit the ball.
01:13:00Come on, Jackie boys!
01:13:02Get a hold of it!
01:13:03Get a hold of it!
01:13:05Get a hold of it!
01:13:12Get a hold of it!
01:13:18Go, Jackie boys!
01:13:22Get a hold of it!
01:13:25We'll be the good old, I will hit the ball after the game.
01:13:28Let's not throw it, we'll hit them, take a hold.
01:13:29Together, you have your Arbeit and beat the ball.
01:13:29Come here, everybody!
01:13:32Come here, everybody!
01:13:36Come here, to practice now!
01:13:37Be up!..."inter
01:13:46konkret sound of
01:13:46Well, the tying run scored on Jackie's base hit into center field, and it's a new ball game now with
01:13:50Jackie Robinson on second base representing the winning run, and the crowd here is born mad.
01:14:20Folks, the game is over, and the Dodgers win the pennant of Rosemey Asper.
01:14:34That was my boy. Did you see my baby that year?
01:14:38Yeah, he was so close. He went up.
01:14:52Jackie, congratulations.
01:14:54Thank you, sir. Same to you.
01:14:56By the way, Mr. Rickey, there's something bothering me. About that invitation to Washington, do you really think I should
01:15:02go?
01:15:03Yes, Jackie, I do. To Washington. To the Senate, to the House of Representatives, to the American people.
01:15:10You've earned the right to speak. They want you to speak.
01:15:14About things on your mind. About a threat to peace that's on everybody's mind, Jackie. Now you can fight back.
01:15:26I know that life in these United States can be mighty tough for people who are a little different from
01:15:31the majority.
01:15:32I'm not fooled because I've had a chance open to very few Negro Americans, but I do know that democracy
01:15:38works for those who are willing to fight for it.
01:15:41And I'm sure it's worth defending. I can't speak for any 50 million people. No one person can.
01:15:48But I'm certain that I and other Americans of many races and faiths have too much invested in our country's
01:15:55welfare to throw it away or to let it be taken from us.
01:16:04Yes, this is the Jackie Robinson story. But it is not his story alone. Not his victory alone. It is
01:16:14one that each of us shares.
01:16:15A story, a victory that can only happen in a country that is truly free. A country where every child
01:16:24has the opportunity to become president or play baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
01:16:29OK, thank you so much.
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