Baseball Toaster Dodger Thoughts
Help
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and baseball.
Frozen Toast
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Dodger Thoughts
Archives

2009
02  01 

2008
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2004
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2002
09  08  07 
About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

April 15, 1947
2007-04-13 12:45
by Jon Weisman

If you read only 100 stories about Jackie Robinson this weekend, my new piece at SI.com might be one of them:

For most of us who didn't live through Jackie Robinson's first day in the major leagues, black and white images have embedded it in our memories. A stark snapshot of Robinson in his Brooklyn Dodgers cap, or frames of newsreel footage showing him running the bases.

According to Jonathan Eig's new book, Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season, when Robinson awoke early that day at Manhattan's McAlpin Hotel, the sight before him, his wife, [Rachel], and five-month-old son, Jack, Jr., was vivid and suggested anything but the historic day that was upon him. ...

Comments
2007-04-13 12:53:29
1.   Disabled List
Nice photo gallery on Jackie also. SI does a good job with those.

However, photo #13 is a puzzle to me. It's dated 12/13/56 and shows Jackie and his family holding a NY Giants banner. I always thought Robinson had decided to retire before his trade to the Giants. If that was the case, why would he be holding their banner?

2007-04-13 12:53:48
2.   be2ween
Man, what a life! Thanks Jon. God bless 42.
2007-04-13 13:08:57
3.   bhsportsguy
Nothing in this story will make Bob change his mind about Frank Robinson.

http://tinyurl.com/2xjgb4

I repeat nothing.

2007-04-13 13:18:56
4.   bryanf
I really love reading your stuff Jon. This is just another example of why.
2007-04-13 13:31:22
5.   Bob Timmermann
3
My heart has been hardened much like the Pharaoh after each of the ten plagues.
2007-04-13 13:34:03
6.   ToyCannon
Good stuff Jon. Growing up all my baseball heroes seemed to be black. Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn, Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, with only Frank Howard and Tony Conigliaro really breaking the barrier. Tis a shame when I look out today and see teams without any starting black players who aren't 2nd generation players.
2007-04-13 13:34:44
7.   Eric Enders
Very nice article, Jon.

As for the photo, Robinson had already decided to retire well before the trade was made and sold the exclusive rights to his retirement story to Look Magazine. In order to keep the fee of (I believe) $5,000, he had to keep the news under wraps until the magazine issue hit the newsstand. The trade took everyone by surprise, and Robinson had to play along until the magazine came out.

By the way, those of you attending the game on Sunday will be receiving a commemmorative program of sorts as a handout at the gate. This is being distributed at all the MLB stadiums. Look inside and you will find an article by an author who may be familiar. Unfortunately, and of course coincidentally, it covers much of the same material as Jon's story, even down to quoting the same New York Times passages. Apologies in advance, Jon.

2007-04-13 13:41:58
8.   Eric Enders
7 Upon further review I greatly underestimated the amount, which was actually $16,666. That was probably 30 percent or more of his yearly salary at the time.
2007-04-13 14:06:56
9.   Monterey Chris
5

You might want to reconsider. If I remember correctly, it did not go well for Pharaoh during or after the plagues.

2007-04-13 14:17:33
10.   Dodgers49
Does anyone here know why Jackie Robinson chose #42? Did he ever say if that number had any special significance for him? Or was it just handed to him?
2007-04-13 14:18:50
11.   Snowdog
Nice read. I love this: "Just in case you have trouble picking me out I'll be wearing number forty-two."
2007-04-13 14:33:55
12.   Jon Weisman
10 - See The Griddle.

7 - Probably, I should apologize to you.

2007-04-13 14:43:14
13.   Bluebleeder87
Nice read on Jackie Robinson Jon. I have a question, on sundays game you ARE going to have all the numbers on the thread as number 42 right?
2007-04-13 14:43:17
14.   Dodgers49
>>> I'll share with you something James wrote years ago — in this case, 1994 — about a player who is still active in the bigs.

(This pitcher) is, roughly speaking, the worst pitching prospect in the history of the world. There is nothing about his record that would cause a prudent person to suppose that he could pitch in the majors, but he throws hard, so he keeps getting chances. His control record is awful, and he's been hurt a lot, and he's never been effective anywhere.

Answer to the Bill James quiz: Padres journeyman reliever Rudy Seanez . . . <<<

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6676154

You'd think a guy writing for FOX though would be aware that Rudy is no longer a "Padres journeyman." Unfortunately, he's our journeyman. :-)

2007-04-13 14:45:28
15.   Jon Weisman
13 - No, I wasn't serious about that. It wouldn't be practical, for one thing.
2007-04-13 14:58:19
16.   Bluebleeder87
15

I kind of figured you weren't serious about it, I just wanted to make sure.

2007-04-13 15:04:03
17.   Claire Malone-Evans
That was an absolutely wonderful piece on Jackie Robinson. I wouldn't be suprised if Rudy Seanez is released when Furcal returns.
2007-04-13 15:17:10
18.   Don Tordilla
Furcal activated, Tsao sent back down.

http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2007/04/furcal_is_back.html

2007-04-13 15:21:07
19.   Eric Enders
We also have a Brady Clark sighting. Platooning, thy name is Ethier.

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Clark, RF
Martinez, 3B
Lowe, P

2007-04-13 15:21:12
20.   Don Tordilla
Just noticed as well, Clark is starting.

Furcal, SS

Pierre, CF

Nomar, 1B

Kent, 2B

Gonzo, LF

Martin, C

Clark, RF

Martinez, 3B

Lowe, P

2007-04-13 15:23:53
21.   Eric Enders
Over on Dodgers.com, the article celebrating Jackie Robinson's major league debut is accompanied by a photo of him taken on the day he retired. Pretty funny.
2007-04-13 15:25:33
22.   bhsportsguy
As Jon kindly noted my comment from a few days ago, if everything stays on track, after tonight, the Dodgers will face 6 straight righthanders, is it a platoon system or something else, should be known by next week's game against the Pirates at the Stadium.
2007-04-13 15:35:11
23.   Robert Fiore
Didn't we just commemorate this five years ago?

I speak facetiously, but in view of the elaborate and I believe well and tastefully executed observance of the 25th anniversary, including the grand gesture of retiring the number for all teams, it's a little bit difficult to work up a similar level of enthusiasm so soon.

2007-04-13 15:39:26
24.   Eric Enders
23 It was 10 years ago, not 5, and was the 50th anniversary, not the 25th. But I hear ya.
2007-04-13 15:44:20
25.   Robert Fiore
I'm an old, old man. And I can't count.
2007-04-13 15:45:57
26.   Bluebleeder87
You guys notice Alyssa Milano has her own blog at Dodgers.com?
2007-04-13 15:49:34
27.   D4P
2004-2006

Juan Pierre batting #1: .300/.345/.389/.734 (1868 ABs)
Juan Pierre batting #2: .252/.304/.290/.594 (107 ABs)

I don't claim to know whether this is meaningful or not.

2007-04-13 15:50:52
28.   Dodgers49
19. We also have a Brady Clark sighting. Platooning, thy name is Ethier.

I actually expected this. Unless Ethier does something with any opportunities he gets over the next two weeks I won't be surprised to see him exchange places with Bigbie in the near future so that Ethier can work on his batting stroke at Las Vegas.

2007-04-13 15:51:19
29.   PDH5204
27 If there can be one consolation, well, at least his bunts for outs will now be bunts for sacrifices.
2007-04-13 15:54:04
30.   D4P
29
True, but a greater percentage of his patented Groundballs to Second Base™ will be double plays.
2007-04-13 15:55:51
31.   bhsportsguy
Stop what you are doing and go to this link

http://tinyurl.com/2qx5zy

Here you get a chance to hear the man himself.

"My fight was against the barriers that kept Negroes out of baseball. This was the area where I found imperfection, and where I was best able to fight. And I fought because I knew it was not doomed to be a losing fight. It couldn't be a losing fight-not when it took place in a free society."

There is nothing else to say except listen to the man who wore number 42.

2007-04-13 16:02:29
32.   Jon Weisman
26 - I notice she's getting a lot of requests from other bloggers asking to go out for a link.
2007-04-13 16:03:50
33.   PDH5204
30 I was trying very hard, very, very, very hard, to avoid that thought.
2007-04-13 16:05:58
34.   Jon Weisman
From Alyssa.com

"In other news, it's almost opening day!!! Yay! Baseball makes me so happy. But man, the Dodgers are driving me nuts this Spring Training. Colletti if you are reading this – we need a power hitter!!!! "

http://www.safesearching.com/alyssamilano/blog/

2007-04-13 16:09:40
35.   Bluebleeder87
32

:o)

2007-04-13 16:13:16
36.   bhsportsguy
34 I used to work with the attorney who put together the whole internet deal for Alyssa Milano, she was one of the first to deal with false images of herself on the net.
2007-04-13 16:13:45
37.   D4P
Official Dodger Thoughts Siren:

Danica or Alyssa...?

2007-04-13 16:14:41
38.   underdog
34 Why does that sound like a parody of a blog as seen on The Simpsons? Oh well, she's enthusiastic about the right team, at least.

She's also featured prominently in the MLB apparel catalog I just received today, modeling all the fine gear she has her name stamped on.

2007-04-13 16:16:03
39.   Eric Enders
34 She's also got a line of Dodgers clothing she "designed" which is available at Dodgers.com. SOSG had a post about it a few days ago.

We really need to send the Punctuation Police to visit her, though.

2007-04-13 16:18:05
40.   Jon Weisman
36 - I remember that.

37 - Who's the boss? Danica. But don't forget Jan Smithers.

2007-04-13 16:18:20
41.   Jon Weisman
39 - Note my upcoming post above.
2007-04-13 16:23:51
42.   underdog
Zach Duke's off to a fine start today vs. the Pirates. 5 runs in the first inning so far, after Bob's favorite, Russ Ortiz doubled in two runs. My co-worker/office-mate, a Giants fan, is torturing me with this game on the radio.

Danica in a heartbeat. I always crushed on Jan Smithers as a little one, too. (Assuming we're requiring the Siren to be from 80s culture...)

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.