In Appreciation Of Branch Rickey And Jackie Robinson

Originally published April 17, 2013:

Without Branch Rickey signing Jackie Robinson to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, many players would never have been able to play in the majors or, at the very least, their Hall of Fame careers would have been delayed by a few years.

Last night, as the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates were in a rain delay, KMOX took advantage of Rain Delay Theater to go back to the archives to air a 3-part interview between Jack Buck and Jackie Robinson. Unfortunately for me, the Gameday Audio stopped working during the second of the three parts. I was later able to hear part of the third segment thanks to KMOX tweeting me the direct line. I had never heard this interview before but it was a fantastic interview with two Hall of Famers.

All baseball fans should appreciate Rickey for what he did. As was evidenced by the recent film, 42, Rickey searched for the right player to break the color barrier. There were some names mentioned and the Dodgers would go on to sign them sometime soon thereafter.

Without Robinson, the Braves wouldn’t sign Hank Aaron in 1952. The New York Giants wouldn’t sign Willie Mays in 1950. The Chicago Cubs wouldn’t sign Ernie Banks in 1953. The Dodgers wouldn’t sign Roy Campanella, soon to win 3 MVP Awards, to join the trailblazing Robinson in 1946.

Satchel Paige would never have become the oldest player to make his debut at the age of 41 for the Indians in 1948.

Another Robinson, Frank, would not have been signed by the Reds in 1953. He would become a Triple Crown winner for Baltimore in 1966.

Without Robinson, many players would never have worn a major league uniform until the 1960s. For that, we are forever grateful to Rickey and Robinson.