Seth Kaller, Inc.

Jackie Robinson’s combination of character, discipline, strength, selflessness, pride, valor, and depth of understanding made him a transformational figure. More than simply a sports icon, Robinson shaped America’s civil society and even government. This biography, first published in 1957 by Julian Messner, captures the excitement of his barrier-breaking career.

JACKIE ROBINSON. Signed Copy of Milton J. Shapiro, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. New York: Washington Square Press, 1967. Paperback. Robinson inscribed the book on the interior front cover: “To David with best wishes / Jackie Robinson” in bold blue ink. 248 pp., 4¼ x 7 in.

Inventory #27893       Price: $3,500

Excerpts
“The air was crisp and alive over Jersey City that eighteenth day of April 1946, and in Roosevelt Stadium it fairly crackled with excitement. It was opening day, Montreal against Jersey City. But it was more than that.

“Thirty-five thousand fans had jammed the stadium to witness the debut of Jackie Robinson, the first Negro in organized baseball. They had read about his exploits all during the spring training season. They had read of the controversy of his playing in the militantly anti-Negro sections of the South. Now they had come in swarms to see the phenomenon in the flesh, expecting anything to happen, hoping—they didn’t quite know for what.

“Roosevelt Stadium was like the scene of a giant carnival, or perhaps a great bullfight, or an ancient Roman arena. Only it was Jackie Robinson, instead of the Christians, being thrown to the lions.” (p88)

“Then the Philadelphia Phillies, managed by Ben Chapman, came to Ebbets Field, and it started.

“Jackie came to bat in the first inning. As he walked slowly, with that pigeon-toed gait of his, toward home plate, the Philadelphia dugout erupted in a shower of racial insults. Manager Chapman led the tirade.” (p117)

“Through seven innings,” the two teams “were locked in a scoreless duel. Gregg got the Phillies out in the eighth. Then the Dodgers came to bat. Robinson led off. The racial epithets began at once from the direction of the visiting bench. Behind him, as he left the Dodger dugout, Jackie heard several of the Dodgers growling about the Philadelphians’ lack of fair play.

“Grimly, Jackie strode to the plate. He let Leonard’s first pitch go by for a ball, then rapped the next pitch into center field for a single.

“Gene Hermanski came up to hit and Robinson took his lead off first.... On the third pitch, Robinson took off for second base. The crowd leaped to its feet. This was the Robinson they had heard and read about!

“Jackie had gotten a good jump. The pitch came in low to catcher Andy Seminick. He grabbed it and threw to second, but Jackie was in safely. The ball, thrown hurriedly by Seminick, bounced into the dirt, past the shortstop covering the base, and into center field. Jackie scrambled to his feet and sped into third standing up. The crowd gave him an ovation.

“Then Hermanski singled, Jackie trotted home—and that was the game.... Robinson had answered Philadelphia the way he was to answer the next ten years all those in baseball who would victimize him because of his color—by knocking their brains out on the playing field.” (p118-119)

“It is impossible to evaluate Jackie Robinson in the colorless language of statistics, though he is far from demeaned by the record books.” (p229)

“Jackie was acknowledged as one of the most consistently dangerous players in baseball, and yet he had the capacity to outdo himself in a clutch situation, to rise to an occasion with a super-rallying of his great skills.

“This was never more evident, perhaps, than in the 1955 World Series. Robinson had experienced the worst season of his career.... Ignoring the injuries to his knees that had plagued him all through the regular season, Jackie put on a dazzling display of base running in the first three games that inspired his teammates to their first World Championship.” (p231-232)

“As he was the first Negro to play in Organized Baseball, so, in 1962, did he become the first Negro to be elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame.” (p247-248)

Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) was born in Georgia. When his father left in 1920, his mother moved the family to California. In high school, Robinson played football, basketball, track, baseball, and tennis. He attended Pasadena Junior College and continued playing in several sports. After graduation in 1939, Robinson enrolled at UCLA, where he became the first black athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track. He left college in 1941, just before graduating. Drafted in 1942, Robinson eventually entered officer candidate school and received a commission as a second lieutenant. Arrested for insubordination to racist officers, Robinson was acquitted in the court martial before an all-white panel of officers. After an honorable discharge in 1944, Robinson played baseball in the Negro leagues, where he drew the attention of major-league baseball. He played with the minor-league Montreal Royals in 1946 and the major-league Brooklyn Dodgers beginning in 1947. Robinson retired in 1957 and served as vice president for personnel at Chock Full O’Nuts coffee from 1957 to 1964. He later helped found a bank and a construction company. He supported the Vietnam War and one of his sons was wounded in service in 1965. Robinson broke with Republicans when they nominated Barry Goldwater for president in 1964.

Milton J. Shapiro (b. 1926) was born in Brooklyn and attended City College of New York. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces for two years. After his military service, he returned to City College and graduated. He worked as a sportswriter and movie critic and founded a magazine publishing company. He is the author of more than a dozen books on sports history and military history, including many for young people.

Condition: Small edge tear and diagonal crease on the front cover, neither affecting the signature; general wear; very good. Full LOA from PSA designating the signature as a Mint 9.