Hail the Holiest of Days for ATBATT - Jackie Robinson Day

Aloha, everybody, 

As many of you already know, the patron saint of ATBATT is the man whom I consider the greatest ballplayer of all time. 

Not because he hit the most home runs, or because he was the best fielder at his position. I chose Jackie Robinson to bless my humble little corner of the blogosphere and I reference him in my nom de blog (Stealing Home) because Jackie revolutionized the game of baseball. 

He played the game darn well, well enough to have an MLB award created because of his talents (Rookie of the Year), he played a key role in the only World Series championship the Brooklyn Dodgers ever won, inspired thousands - nay, millions - to succeed despite long odds, and he did it all with a target on his back, segregated from his own teammates, hated by his peers because of his skin color, and was required to take it. 

The only response his unimaginable task allowed was to be done with the tools of his trade: his bat, his glove and his cleats. 

"After the game, Jackie Robinson came into our clubhouse and shook my hand. He said, 'You're a helluva ballplayer and you've got a great future.' I thought that was a classy gesture, one I wasn't then capable of making. I was a bad loser. 
What meant even more was what Jackie told the press - 'Mantle beat us. He was the difference between the two teams.' 
I have to admit, I became a Jackie Robinson fan on the spot. When I think of that series, his gesture is what comes to mind. Here was a player that without a doubt suffered more abuse and more taunts and more hatred than any player in the history of the game. And he made a special effort to compliment and encourage a young, white kid from Oklahoma." - Mickey Mantle 

Robinson was important to all blacks. To make it into the majors and to take all the name calling, he had to be something special. He had to take all this for years. Not just for Jackie Robinson, but for the nation." - Willie Mays 

 "Give me five players like Robinson and a pitcher, and I'll beat any nine-man team in baseball." - Manager Chuck Dressen

"I liked Jackie Robinson because he was cooll to watch, not because he was black. Every time you turn around, he was hitting a triple or making a great play in the field, or best of all, stealing home." - Cheech Marin

"Jackie was speaking at a drugstore, and I said, 'I'm not going to get this opportunity again, so I better take my chances and listen to Jackie now.' Little did I know, I got front row seats, and next to me was my father." - Hank Aaron

Thanks for everything, Jackie. 

Aloha! 

How Jackie Robinson Did in his Major League Debut - and Jackie Cardboard!

Aloha, everybody,

Today is a very special day for the Dodgers and their fans, but more than that, it's an important day for all of baseball. 

Maybe you've heard, today marks the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson making his major league debut, and more importantly, his shattering of baseball's color barrier against African American players. 

Here's how that day unfolded...

Jackie started in the Dodgers organization as a second baseman, but he opened the 1947 season at first base against the Boston Braves. 

 Jackie got the first put out of the game when Dick Culler grounded to third base. Fellow Dodgers rookie Spider Jorgansen threw the ball to Jackie for the out, and he was now a big leaguer. 

 Robinson batted second, behind Eddie Stanky. In his first major league at bat, Jackie faced legendary Johnnie Sain. The legend easily got the rookie to ground out.

He hit a fly ball out in the third inning, and then hit into a double play in the fifth. 
 

 Robinson came up again in the seventh, with  the Dodgers trailing 3-2. Stanky had walked and was on first base. 

Jackie came up and bunted. He flew down the line, causing Earl Torgeson to hurry his throw, which hit Robinson in the back. Both runners were safe, and came around to score on Pete Reiser's double.

 That was the end of the day for young Jackie, as he was replaced by Howie Schultz "for defensive purposes". 

Later the Dodgers realized Jackie was the best glove to have on the field, and Schultz, the man who had replaced Jackie that day, was soon sold to the Phillies. 
 

The Dodgers' announcer, Red Barber mentioned Jackie's inclusion in the game as casually as he spoke about any other player. The next day the New York Times barely mentioned Robinson, as he was not much of a factor in the outcome of the game. 

There wasn't much of a mention about color barriers or baseball revolutions at the time. 
 

They didn't acknowledge it very much that day, but today ALL of baseball will acknowledge and embrace it. Every player in every game will wear Jackie's number, 42. 

 I'll be going out to Chavez Ravine tonight for Jackie Robinson Day to see the Dodgers vs Giants, and Clayton Kershaw vs Madison Bumgarner, with both teams tied for first place in the National League West. It should be a great game. 

The Dodgers are also giving away Jackie Robinson jerseys, so tonight we'll all be number 42 - even me! Aloha! 

You Also Say JENGA When You Save Cardmas!

Aloha, everybody, 

And the Cardmas magic just keeps on rolling. 

In my previous post I showed off some of the cardboard stocking stuffers that Tony B from WRJ sent to me, but I forgot to show the cool oddball that he sent along with the bunch. 

Somehow I left said oddball in the envelope, and at scanning time it remained there, forgotten. Have no fear, because Tony noticed it wasn't in my post, and he sent an email asking me if he had forgotten to pack that oddball in the first place. 

It turns out the timing of all of this was perfect, because a Dodgers news story broke since that first WRJ post, which grooves right into this new post perfectly. 

The Dodgers just announced they will dedicate their first stadium statue in 2016. Statues at stadiums are far from a new thing, but up until now, Dodger Stadium hasn't had one (I certainly don't count a giant Tommy Lasorda bobblehead as a statue). 

Who gets the honor of the first statue? Of course, he's the patron saint of ATBATT, and the player whom I take Stealing Home, my nom de blog from..

 Tony included this oddball of Jackie in the envelope as well, and I must point out that although I already had a couple of these, this one is in pristine shape, as though it came out of a pack yesterday. 

That however, was not the original oddball that Tony was referring to, and I had forgotten. This is...

It's a slightly oversized bio/portrait card of Branch Rickey, who some might refer to as the patron saint of Mr. Robinson. 

For the three of you out there who don't know yet, Branch Rickey was the guy who convinced the Dodgers to take on the task of breaking the black/white color barrier in MLB.  He also convinced Jackie to suck up the abuse hurled at him from the stands and opposing dugouts, and show through his playing ability that he, and others no different than him, deserved to play alongside white, Caribbean and Latin ballplayers. 

He was also played by Han Solo in the movie 42 . 

Here's the bio on the back. Check out Rickey's birthday - he's a Christmas baby - more Cardmas magic! 

 So I now have a piece commemorating one of the most influential men in baseball, and it's thanks to Tony B. 

P.S. for Zippy Zappy. Please grab my email from my profile and shoot an email to me, ZZ.  
P.S.S. for Matt and Tony L. Check my reply to the beer trading comments on Matt's blog. It's in the "Skinny Bonds" post. 

 Aloha - and Merry Christmas, everybody, wherever you may be.

Every Day Is Jackie Robinson Day In Baseball

Hey everybody,

As we all know, MLB celebrated ol' number 42 yesterday.  I had a post idea ready to go, but I figured I would post after last night's Dodgers - Giants game.  As L.A. and S.F. fans know, the game went on until just around midnight. Don't ask who won.

Suffice to say, I went to bed and never posted last night.  Today I thought this post would make me late by one day, but then I realized our acknowledgement of Jackie's amazing feat of climbing the highest mountain created by man should not be restricted to only one day.  The discrimination Jackie had to endure, even within his own team, and his ability to succeed beyond anyone's expectations, except perhaps those of himself and Mrs. Robinson, should rate at least a week's worth of honor and recognition.

So in my bid for a Jackie Robinson Week, I present today's post which features my favorite piece of Robinson memorabilia.  I humbly present my ceramic Jackie stealing home:

These were a Dodger Stadium giveaway back in 2005.  Very cool!  The figure is roughly 10 inches long and Jackie's head sits about 5 inches high.

"Outta my way, Yogi!"

Finally, I'm going to leave you all with a bit about Jackie the way only the venerable Vin Scully can spin it.  It's a true story that perhaps inspired the tradition of all ballplayers wearing number 42 on Jackie's day.  It's a story from one of the darkest and perhaps most frightening days Robinson (and his Dodger teammates) had to endure while playing in Cincinnati.

Well, I couldn't DL the audio into blogger, so here's the link.  The story takes less than two minutes, and I assure you they're two minutes well spent.

THANKS for everything, Jackie!

Happy Birthday, One, Two, Three!

Although it's well past midnight on the east coast, we've got a little under an hour left in the wonderful day that is January 31st here in LA.

I'm a little late to posting up this Happy Birthday wish to the guy who spawned my nom de blog, Jackie Robinson, but that's because I've been out celebrating myself.

you see, Jackie and I share the same birthday.  :)   Aint it grand?

BTW - Jackie and I share our birthday with another baseball bad-ass...Nolan Ryan.

Happy Birthday, Jackie and Nolan, wherever you are!