"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Jackie Robinson was "the greatest competitor to ever play the game", Duke Snider. Jackie Robinson's mark on the game of baseball goes well beyond his stats in the game. He became the first baseball player to ever appear on a stamp. His influence in America was staggering. Rickey Branch made it all possible, by fighting for and with Jackie to play in the majors. "Jackie, we've got no army. There's virtually nobody on our side. No owner, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I'm afraid that many fans may be hostile. We'll be in a tough position. We can win only if we can convince the world that I am doing this because you're a great ballplayer, and a fine gentleman." At the time, baseball was considered an All-American sport, but how could the sport be considered All-American if many Americans were not allowed to participate? Branch decided he would do something about this, but as important to him was finding a model citizen that would be able to handle the immense pressure that went along with breaking the colour barrier.
On August 18th 1945, Branch told Robinson of his plan. Robinson reported to Montreal in 1946 to begin to play. At first, he was not supported by his team and opposition heckled him, yet with his hard work, determination and courage, he was able to turn his team to support him. However, to let a black player play in the Majors, a rule had to be changed. Branch approached the owners to have a vote to see if he could have a change to allow black players in the majors. He was voted down 15 to 1, each of the owners wanted to keep black players out of the league. Branch had a meeting with the commissioner over dinner and the commissioner decided to overrule the rest of the owners. Jackie came into the league in 1947 and won the MVP in 1949. Branch allowed for the biggest change in baseball and sports in the 20th century. He was a true innovator.
-- Branch Rickey, ex-General Manager Brooklyn Dodgers
"But if Mr. Rickey hadn't signed me, I wouldn't have played another year in the black league. It was too difficult. The travel was brutal. Financially, there was no reward. It took everything you make to live off."
"I realized how much our relationship had deepened after I left baseball. It was that later relationship that made me feel almost as if I had lost my own father. Branch Rickey, especially after I was no longer in the sports spotlight, treated me like a son." - Jackie Robinson in I Never Had it Made (Jackie Robinson, 1997)
"The thing about him was that he was always doing something for someone else. I know, because he did so much for me." - Jackie Robinson
Michael Snow
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