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Some exclusions apply. 11 00:00:32,940 --> 00:00:55,580 Speaker 1: Hello. 12 00:00:55,860 --> 00:00:57,420 Speaker 2: And welcome. To My Favorite Murder. 13 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:58,830 Speaker 3: That's Georgia Hardstark. 14 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,610 Speaker 2: Thank you. That's Karen Calqueira. You're welcome. And here. 15 00:01:02,580 --> 00:01:06,460 Speaker 3: We are presenting you what we call a solo episode. 16 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: It's a gift to ourselves. 17 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:08,660 Speaker 3: That's right. 18 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: Essentially. 19 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,020 Speaker 3: That's right. Where we get to take a little break. 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,660 Speaker 2: We record in advance. We do extra work in advance 21 00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: so that the future is brighter. 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 3: We've all sat by a pool and said, hey, isn't 23 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 3: this nice? 24 00:01:19,540 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. 25 00:01:20,220 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 3: We want that in our lives. 26 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:22,090 Speaker 2: That's right. 27 00:01:22,390 --> 00:01:23,470 Speaker 3: A pool or a stream. 28 00:01:23,490 --> 00:01:25,890 Speaker 2: A fucking running sink would be fun. 29 00:01:25,910 --> 00:01:29,050 Speaker 3: Just stand near the sink with your hands in the water. 30 00:01:29,660 --> 00:01:32,020 Speaker 3: But you can't do that if you're podcasting. So we 31 00:01:32,060 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 3: got to take a break. 32 00:01:32,819 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: That's right. You have to work before you relax. 33 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 3: That's right. 34 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: Says the patriarchy. And so. 35 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 3: And so do it. 36 00:01:39,459 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 2: No, we're the literal business owners. 37 00:01:43,140 --> 00:01:44,130 Speaker 3: We love this. 38 00:01:44,150 --> 00:01:47,890 Speaker 2: This is one thing we can't fucking blame on the patriarchy. Unfortunately. 39 00:01:47,910 --> 00:01:49,370 Speaker 3: This is the estriarchy. 40 00:01:49,870 --> 00:01:51,190 Speaker 2: Oh, I love that. 41 00:01:51,670 --> 00:01:52,330 Speaker 3: Let's end it. 42 00:01:55,110 --> 00:01:58,620 Speaker 2: The estriarchy. That gave you pause. 43 00:01:58,940 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 3: Right? 44 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: Three pointing back. 45 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 3: Three pointing back. 46 00:02:03,220 --> 00:02:04,100 Speaker 2: So sick of her. 47 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: God, if she would only shut up. 48 00:02:07,420 --> 00:02:10,669 Speaker 2: She just can't help herself. This week, it's me who 49 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:13,450 Speaker 2: can't help herself and can't shut the fuck up by 50 00:02:13,490 --> 00:02:14,930 Speaker 2: telling you a solo story. 51 00:02:15,669 --> 00:02:17,300 Speaker 3: Let's see if I can. I can shut the fuck up. 52 00:02:17,380 --> 00:02:18,020 Speaker 3: I probably can't. 53 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: And listen, it can all be true crime all the time. 54 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: Explain yourself at no time to no person. 55 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 2: I'm doing it to us. 56 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,820 Speaker 3: Oh, is this for the astriarchy? Well, they say not 57 00:02:27,860 --> 00:02:34,100 Speaker 3: good enough. Yeah, actually, she does fucking say that. She does, right? 58 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:34,860 Speaker 3: She's so tough. 59 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 2: She's so mean. She talks a lot. 60 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. 61 00:02:37,580 --> 00:02:39,780 Speaker 3: It's because she's a little sister. Yeah, that's right. No 62 00:02:39,820 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: one listens. 63 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,500 Speaker 2: So today I'm going to do a story about a 64 00:02:42,540 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: sports legend. 65 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 3: Okay. 66 00:02:44,410 --> 00:02:44,740 Speaker 1: Great. 67 00:02:44,940 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 2: One of your favorite sports. 68 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah? 69 00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: Baseball. Who many would argue that this sports legend... Babe Ruth? No. 70 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:55,210 Speaker 2: Wedged to open the door for the civil rights movement. 71 00:02:55,750 --> 00:02:56,070 Speaker 1: What? 72 00:02:56,130 --> 00:02:58,690 Speaker 2: This is the story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. 73 00:02:59,310 --> 00:02:59,970 Speaker 1: Hell yeah. 74 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:03,570 Speaker 2: Do you know anything? I know I'm talking about. Well, absolutely. 75 00:03:03,790 --> 00:03:07,130 Speaker 3: And I've definitely watched a lot of documentaries with my 76 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,820 Speaker 3: dad that I would not myself have otherwise chosen. 77 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:10,100 Speaker 1: Yeah. 78 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:11,980 Speaker 3: But then when I watch, I'm like, I'm so glad 79 00:03:12,020 --> 00:03:12,540 Speaker 3: I watched that. 80 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: It's because Ken Burns can do no wrong. 81 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 3: Yeah. Oh, right. 82 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 2: You know, the main source of the story is the 83 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,300 Speaker 2: Ken Burns documentary. Jackie Robinson and the rest of the 84 00:03:20,340 --> 00:03:22,100 Speaker 2: sources can be found. In the show notes. 85 00:03:22,419 --> 00:03:22,899 Speaker 3: Incredible. 86 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:28,190 Speaker 2: So Jack Roosevelt Robinson is born January 31st, 1919 in Cairo, 87 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:32,529 Speaker 2: Georgia to Mally and Jerry Robinson. And Theodore Roosevelt had 88 00:03:32,610 --> 00:03:35,050 Speaker 2: died earlier in the month that Jack is born. So 89 00:03:35,090 --> 00:03:38,210 Speaker 2: that's why his middle name is Roosevelt to tribute to 90 00:03:38,230 --> 00:03:39,650 Speaker 2: Theodore Roosevelt. 91 00:03:39,670 --> 00:03:42,230 Speaker 3: That's weird to think that they existed right at the 92 00:03:42,250 --> 00:03:44,410 Speaker 3: same time. They like did a fold over. Overlap. 93 00:03:44,810 --> 00:03:45,010 Speaker 2: Right. 94 00:03:45,130 --> 00:03:46,130 Speaker 3: That'll be my last comment. 95 00:03:47,730 --> 00:03:49,970 Speaker 2: No, it won't. And I'm glad. Jack is the youngest 96 00:03:49,990 --> 00:03:52,490 Speaker 2: of five children and his father works as a sharecropper. 97 00:03:52,690 --> 00:03:56,190 Speaker 2: At least two of Jack's grandparents had been enslaved. And 98 00:03:56,290 --> 00:03:58,060 Speaker 2: I looked it up in the year he's born. At 99 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:03,260 Speaker 2: least 21 African-Americans are hanged in Georgia alone. So we're 100 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: deep in it. It's 1919. You know, things are not easy. 101 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: And there's so much more that I've left out of 102 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,940 Speaker 2: this just for time purposes. So definitely watch the Ken 103 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: Burns documentary. Everyone's like, yeah. 104 00:04:15,950 --> 00:04:17,530 Speaker 3: We're not going to just. 105 00:04:17,490 --> 00:04:18,330 Speaker 2: Listen to you. 106 00:04:18,350 --> 00:04:21,710 Speaker 3: This isn't where we get this kind of information. 107 00:04:21,730 --> 00:04:25,469 Speaker 2: They're not playing this in schools. So the father, Jerry, 108 00:04:25,510 --> 00:04:27,830 Speaker 2: winds up abandoning the family right around when Jack is 109 00:04:27,910 --> 00:04:30,710 Speaker 2: six months old. And so left with five kids and 110 00:04:30,730 --> 00:04:32,790 Speaker 2: very few options, Mally has to come up with a 111 00:04:32,810 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: plan to take care of her family. So when Jack 112 00:04:34,710 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 2: is a year old, Mally moves the family to Pasadena. 113 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: Oh. 114 00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: Like right down the street from us. 115 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,930 Speaker 3: Yeah, right around the corner. And Like back then, it 116 00:04:43,970 --> 00:04:46,270 Speaker 3: was like all orange groves on the West Coast. 117 00:04:46,450 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: And beautiful homes. And it is a really lovely community. 118 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 2: So Mally's brother lives there. And so Mally moves there 119 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:56,540 Speaker 2: with her children, helping to find a better life, more opportunities, 120 00:04:56,740 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 2: and less outright racism than is baked into the culture 121 00:05:00,779 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: in Georgia. And while Pasadena is certainly less deadly, it's 122 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,850 Speaker 2: still very racist. Mally works as a maid in a 123 00:05:07,890 --> 00:05:11,130 Speaker 2: white family's house. And only two years after moving to Pasadena, 124 00:05:11,190 --> 00:05:14,010 Speaker 2: when Jack is three... Malia has saved up enough money 125 00:05:14,050 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: to buy her own house. And she buys one in 126 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:21,140 Speaker 2: Pasadena on a street called Pepper Street, which is predominantly white. 127 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,090 Speaker 2: And so the neighbors are not welcoming. And in quaint 128 00:05:25,130 --> 00:05:28,750 Speaker 2: little Pasadena, they burn a cross on her front lawn. 129 00:05:29,050 --> 00:05:31,190 Speaker 3: I was going to say, because I remember we talked 130 00:05:31,210 --> 00:05:33,909 Speaker 3: about something else. And I remember learning that Glendale was 131 00:05:33,970 --> 00:05:34,790 Speaker 3: a sundown town. 132 00:05:34,810 --> 00:05:34,970 Speaker 1: Right. 133 00:05:34,990 --> 00:05:37,810 Speaker 3: And that lots and lots of places. Like, it's a 134 00:05:38,110 --> 00:05:41,250 Speaker 3: lie we tell ourselves that California somehow was filled with 135 00:05:41,290 --> 00:05:44,470 Speaker 3: a bunch of cool hippies that loved everybody. It's like, no, 136 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 3: sundown towns left, right, and center. I mean, just horrifying. Yeah, 100%. 137 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,220 Speaker 2: I mean, it's why Altadena exists is because they were 138 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:53,180 Speaker 2: pushed out of Pasadena. 139 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:53,339 Speaker 1: Right. 140 00:05:53,930 --> 00:05:56,530 Speaker 2: Also, neighbors call the cops on Jack's older brother when 141 00:05:56,570 --> 00:05:59,470 Speaker 2: he's roller skating on the sidewalk. Just not good. But 142 00:05:59,510 --> 00:06:01,870 Speaker 2: Mally makes it known that she has no intentions of moving. 143 00:06:02,550 --> 00:06:05,630 Speaker 2: And eventually, Jack himself falls in with what's called the 144 00:06:05,670 --> 00:06:08,130 Speaker 2: Pepper Street Gang, which is a group of kids from 145 00:06:08,150 --> 00:06:12,339 Speaker 2: the neighborhood from minority backgrounds. They stick together. They get 146 00:06:12,380 --> 00:06:15,900 Speaker 2: into low-level mischief. They're playing baseball in the street and 147 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: that kind of thing. 148 00:06:16,620 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 149 00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:20,180 Speaker 2: When Jack is around 10, his classmates start to notice 150 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,610 Speaker 2: that he's an incredible baseball player. And so they start 151 00:06:23,690 --> 00:06:25,730 Speaker 2: sharing their lunches with him in order to get him 152 00:06:25,770 --> 00:06:29,029 Speaker 2: to play on their team. But Jack isn't the first 153 00:06:29,110 --> 00:06:31,970 Speaker 2: star athlete of the family. This is so interesting. Jack's 154 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:35,790 Speaker 2: older brother, Mac, is a track star, and he competes 155 00:06:36,110 --> 00:06:40,590 Speaker 2: on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team in Berlin, the one 156 00:06:40,630 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: that Jesse Owens, another black athlete, wins four gold medals. 157 00:06:44,630 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 3: Yes. 158 00:06:45,010 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: And he, in the 200-meter dash, Mac comes in second 159 00:06:48,420 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: to Jesse Owens. 160 00:06:49,380 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: Wow. 161 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 2: I know. 162 00:06:50,180 --> 00:06:50,250 Speaker 1: Wow. 163 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:52,910 Speaker 3: What a standard to set. 164 00:06:53,270 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: I mean. For everyone to see that and be like, that's. 165 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 3: And also. 166 00:06:57,260 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: And Hitler was so mad. Yes, I know. 167 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,540 Speaker 3: I love that. It's so good. But it also just 168 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,130 Speaker 3: makes me think about, and I'll just say this very quickly. 169 00:07:05,529 --> 00:07:08,390 Speaker 3: But I just had this very old white lady realization. 170 00:07:08,450 --> 00:07:13,510 Speaker 3: People talk about black excellence. It's because when you marginalize 171 00:07:13,690 --> 00:07:16,060 Speaker 3: any group. And you basically are just like, oh, no 172 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:18,060 Speaker 3: matter what you do, you won't be good enough. Then 173 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: it's just like, then the levels go up and up 174 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:20,510 Speaker 3: and up. 175 00:07:20,540 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: You can't just be okay at something. You have to 176 00:07:22,220 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: be the actual very best to get anyone to take 177 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:25,310 Speaker 2: you seriously. 178 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:27,710 Speaker 3: He had to win the Olympics so everyone on Pepper 179 00:07:27,750 --> 00:07:29,870 Speaker 3: Street was cool with the Robinson family. 180 00:07:29,910 --> 00:07:35,309 Speaker 2: Totally. So Jack starts going to school at Pasadena Junior 181 00:07:35,350 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: College and plays football, baseball, and basketball. His athletic abilities 182 00:07:39,660 --> 00:07:43,900 Speaker 2: draw immediate attention, and he's recruited by basically any university. 183 00:07:44,370 --> 00:07:48,710 Speaker 2: that will accept black students. So a wealthy Stanford College 184 00:07:48,830 --> 00:07:53,370 Speaker 2: alum offers to pay Jack's tuition at any school that 185 00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:55,710 Speaker 2: he wants to go to as long as that school 186 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: doesn't play against Stanford. So you can't go here. But 187 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:03,180 Speaker 2: we really don't want to ever play against you. That's 188 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:03,780 Speaker 2: how good you are. 189 00:08:03,860 --> 00:08:06,300 Speaker 3: But hold on a second. Yeah. Don't you think this 190 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,810 Speaker 3: is a little bit of an insight into the way 191 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,590 Speaker 3: rich people have been rigging the game? 192 00:08:10,630 --> 00:08:10,930 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 193 00:08:10,970 --> 00:08:12,310 Speaker 2: No, it's absolute bullshit. 194 00:08:12,330 --> 00:08:14,150 Speaker 3: But I mean, like, I've never heard of that. 195 00:08:14,390 --> 00:08:14,550 Speaker 1: Yeah. 196 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 3: That's cheating. That's fucking crazy. 197 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: And it's not like, well, why not just let black 198 00:08:19,340 --> 00:08:21,100 Speaker 2: people in? No, we just don't. 199 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 3: No, no, no. 200 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:23,179 Speaker 2: No, no, no. We won't do that. For other reasons 201 00:08:23,260 --> 00:08:25,700 Speaker 2: and because this would rule out many major West Coast schools, 202 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: Jack turns the offer down and attends UCLA, where he 203 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,750 Speaker 2: plays football, basketball, and baseball. 204 00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:32,140 Speaker 3: Wow. 205 00:08:32,690 --> 00:08:35,589 Speaker 2: But in the spring during the baseball season, he also 206 00:08:35,650 --> 00:08:38,550 Speaker 2: runs track. So he's doing everything at UCLA where, like, 207 00:08:38,630 --> 00:08:40,650 Speaker 2: the bar is high. You have to be good at everything. 208 00:08:40,790 --> 00:08:40,910 Speaker 1: Yes. 209 00:08:40,929 --> 00:08:44,090 Speaker 3: Yes. But also then that's great conditioning. Like in between 210 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,330 Speaker 3: your sport, you're just doing more sports. 211 00:08:45,350 --> 00:08:48,790 Speaker 2: Totally. So that's four sports. He letters in all of them. 212 00:08:49,790 --> 00:08:53,190 Speaker 2: So Ali wrote this in the research. On one occasion 213 00:08:53,230 --> 00:08:56,550 Speaker 2: during a football game, he had a 65-yard punt return. 214 00:08:56,730 --> 00:08:58,310 Speaker 2: And I was like, I don't know what that means. 215 00:08:58,429 --> 00:08:59,699 Speaker 2: And I don't know how to know if that's good 216 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,780 Speaker 2: or not. So I turned to Vince. There I go. Vince, 217 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 2: what's a good punt return number? And he gave me 218 00:09:04,460 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: some numbers. And then he goes like, I quote, quote, 219 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:08,780 Speaker 2: 40 is like, whoa. 220 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 221 00:09:09,940 --> 00:09:13,860 Speaker 2: That's what Vince said. So 65-yard punt return. He's like, whoa. 222 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,260 Speaker 2: He's like, double whoa. And the University of Washington fans 223 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,260 Speaker 2: who are playing UCLA, they join in giving him a 224 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,500 Speaker 2: standing ovation when he does that against their team because 225 00:09:22,540 --> 00:09:23,570 Speaker 2: it's so unheard of. 226 00:09:23,950 --> 00:09:25,290 Speaker 3: I know a lot of things make me cry. 227 00:09:25,309 --> 00:09:25,609 Speaker 2: Yeah. 228 00:09:25,910 --> 00:09:29,350 Speaker 3: But when the opposite team starts cheering and they go 229 00:09:29,410 --> 00:09:34,490 Speaker 3: above and beyond competition, you have to give. 230 00:09:34,370 --> 00:09:35,089 Speaker 2: It up for this. 231 00:09:35,110 --> 00:09:35,550 Speaker 1: Totally. 232 00:09:35,590 --> 00:09:36,230 Speaker 3: It's so amazing. 233 00:09:36,490 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 2: And he told me the average is 9 to 10 234 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,910 Speaker 2: in pro basketball. And 40 is like, whoa. 235 00:09:41,710 --> 00:09:42,490 Speaker 3: Nine to ten yards? 236 00:09:42,770 --> 00:09:43,170 Speaker 2: Yeah. 237 00:09:43,309 --> 00:09:44,010 Speaker 3: Oh, wow. 238 00:09:45,190 --> 00:09:45,700 Speaker 2: Ask your dad. 239 00:09:45,929 --> 00:09:46,860 Speaker 3: I love learning. 240 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: I know. 241 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: It's during his college sports career that the press gives 242 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,660 Speaker 2: him the name Jackie, although his family always calls him Jack. 243 00:09:54,830 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: So Jackie is just a nickname that he doesn't even use. 244 00:09:58,360 --> 00:09:59,100 Speaker 3: Which is so interesting. 245 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 2: But I'm going to call him Jack since that's his name. 246 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,860 Speaker 2: While they're covering his incredible talent, they often add in 247 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 2: incredibly offensive racist tropes in their writing, which surprises no one. 248 00:10:10,340 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 2: During Jack's senior year, he meets a freshman nursing student 249 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 2: named Rachel Isom, and she's the daughter of a disabled 250 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 2: World War I vet. Actually, you want to see some pictures? 251 00:10:19,790 --> 00:10:20,179 Speaker 1: Yes, please. 252 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 2: So let's see some pictures of Jackie's sportsy pictures. There's 253 00:10:22,780 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 2: like some good close-up photos of it. Yeah, there we go, 254 00:10:24,820 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: that one. Wow. I know. 255 00:10:26,300 --> 00:10:30,450 Speaker 3: I mean, it's so hard to be good at every sport. 256 00:10:31,090 --> 00:10:32,069 Speaker 3: It's so crazy. 257 00:10:32,550 --> 00:10:34,870 Speaker 2: This is Jack with Rachel Isom, which will be his 258 00:10:34,929 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 2: future wife. Look at her. Is she not the cutest? 259 00:10:39,230 --> 00:10:41,010 Speaker 3: They both have such perfect faces. 260 00:10:41,070 --> 00:10:42,670 Speaker 2: I mean, they're so gorgeous. 261 00:10:42,690 --> 00:10:44,990 Speaker 3: So sorry, you get to be good at every single 262 00:10:45,050 --> 00:10:46,150 Speaker 3: sport and hot? 263 00:10:46,309 --> 00:10:49,270 Speaker 2: And super hot, and then get the cutest wife on 264 00:10:49,290 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 2: the planet. So she's a nursing student, Rachel. She's the 265 00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 2: daughter of a disabled World War I vet, and her 266 00:10:55,100 --> 00:10:58,859 Speaker 2: mom owns her own very successful catering business. And at 267 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 2: this point, there's a small number of Black students at UCLA, 268 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,660 Speaker 2: Rachel being one of them. And she knows of Jack, 269 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,300 Speaker 2: of course, because he's locally famous as the Athlete. And 270 00:11:08,380 --> 00:11:10,819 Speaker 2: she had expected him to be cocky and annoying because 271 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,370 Speaker 2: of this. Someone wanted to set them up. She's pleasantly surprised. 272 00:11:14,650 --> 00:11:17,750 Speaker 2: Their first date is at the UCLA Homecoming Dance at 273 00:11:17,790 --> 00:11:19,069 Speaker 2: the Biltmore Hotel. 274 00:11:19,090 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: Ooh. 275 00:11:19,790 --> 00:11:22,490 Speaker 2: And they quickly fall in love and become a serious couple. 276 00:11:22,510 --> 00:11:22,590 Speaker 1: Hmm. 277 00:11:23,590 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 3: You mentioned going to, like, a dance with a guy 278 00:11:25,740 --> 00:11:28,100 Speaker 3: that's the star of every single sport and game. 279 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:28,500 Speaker 1: Yeah. 280 00:11:28,620 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: She talks in the Ken Burns documentary, and there's so 281 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,979 Speaker 2: much more about her. I'm unhappy to have to leave 282 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,900 Speaker 2: out for time, but she talks about her expectations of 283 00:11:36,940 --> 00:11:39,140 Speaker 2: him and how wrong she was because he was so great. 284 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 285 00:11:40,179 --> 00:11:42,950 Speaker 2: After Jack graduates, he moves to Honolulu to play for 286 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 2: a regional football team called the Bears. He leaves Honolulu 287 00:11:47,059 --> 00:11:50,900 Speaker 2: on December 5th, 1941, which you know is two days 288 00:11:50,980 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 2: before the attack on Pearl Harbor. You were going to 289 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:53,859 Speaker 2: say that. 290 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,370 Speaker 3: I was, and I wanted to interrupt you so badly. 291 00:11:56,950 --> 00:12:00,770 Speaker 2: So he's at sea, like coming back home on a 292 00:12:00,850 --> 00:12:03,750 Speaker 2: fucking ship when Pearl Harbor is attacked. 293 00:12:04,130 --> 00:12:04,350 Speaker 3: Wow. 294 00:12:04,730 --> 00:12:08,570 Speaker 2: So he enlists in the army shortly after. Long story there, 295 00:12:08,610 --> 00:12:11,069 Speaker 2: but in the end, he asks to leave the military 296 00:12:11,250 --> 00:12:14,270 Speaker 2: and is granted an honorable discharge. After leaving the Army, 297 00:12:14,429 --> 00:12:17,380 Speaker 2: Jack goes to play baseball in what's called the Negro Leagues. 298 00:12:17,770 --> 00:12:20,420 Speaker 2: While many of the players Jackie comes across are incredibly 299 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 2: talented in this league, he's frustrated by the lack of 300 00:12:22,940 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: resources available to the teams. He's equally frustrated by the 301 00:12:26,380 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: racist treatment his team gets when traveling. So there are 302 00:12:29,780 --> 00:12:32,580 Speaker 2: some gas stations that won't allow Black people to use 303 00:12:32,620 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: the bathrooms. And so he implements this tradition where if 304 00:12:36,460 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 2: they won't let us use the bathroom, we're not purchasing 305 00:12:38,740 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 2: gas from them. And, you know, it's the 30s and 40s. 306 00:12:42,330 --> 00:12:45,490 Speaker 2: Money is needed for these gas stations. And so they 307 00:12:45,550 --> 00:12:47,349 Speaker 2: end up getting to use the bathroom a lot of 308 00:12:47,390 --> 00:12:49,910 Speaker 2: times because of this rule, because they stand up for themselves. 309 00:12:50,250 --> 00:12:52,110 Speaker 2: All through the 30s and into the 40s, there's been 310 00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:56,150 Speaker 2: discussion about integrating Major League Baseball into Mostly there's been 311 00:12:56,190 --> 00:12:59,370 Speaker 2: pressure from black sports writers and progressive groups, but not 312 00:12:59,429 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 2: a huge amount of interest within the MLB or many 313 00:13:03,620 --> 00:13:07,319 Speaker 2: of the team managers, of course. There isn't an official 314 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,939 Speaker 2: rule keeping black players out of the major leagues, but 315 00:13:09,980 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 2: there's an unspoken one. So a man named Branch Rickey, 316 00:13:13,340 --> 00:13:16,220 Speaker 2: the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, what was then the 317 00:13:16,260 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: Brooklyn Dodgers? 318 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 3: And later to become the. 319 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Dodgers. What if I didn't know that? 320 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 3: You've been to so many games, you had no idea. 321 00:13:24,460 --> 00:13:26,980 Speaker 2: I actually have a Brooklyn Dodgers shirt. They like put 322 00:13:27,059 --> 00:13:30,900 Speaker 2: out old-timey ones. That's cool. Really cute. It's cute. That's 323 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:31,459 Speaker 2: why I got it. 324 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:33,100 Speaker 3: It's cute, and I love fashion. 325 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,940 Speaker 2: So this guy, Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers, wants 326 00:13:37,020 --> 00:13:39,340 Speaker 2: to be the first manager to sign a Black player. 327 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:41,950 Speaker 2: He wants this for a few reasons. The first is 328 00:13:41,970 --> 00:13:43,910 Speaker 2: that he's a devout Christian, and he thinks it's the 329 00:13:43,950 --> 00:13:46,250 Speaker 2: right thing to do. The second is that he sees 330 00:13:46,290 --> 00:13:49,050 Speaker 2: the caliber of athletes that are playing in the Negro Leagues, 331 00:13:49,150 --> 00:13:52,010 Speaker 2: and he wants those athletes playing on his team. So 332 00:13:52,050 --> 00:13:56,140 Speaker 2: he's not a racist like everybody else, essentially. Yeah, he's normal. 333 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,719 Speaker 2: The third is that he thinks having Black players will 334 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,699 Speaker 2: bring more people to the ballpark. He knows that they're just, 335 00:14:01,860 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: they have this huge audience in Black baseball fans that 336 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: are not spending their money watching baseball. 337 00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:12,820 Speaker 3: No value in the segregation whatsoever. There's no reason. 338 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,020 Speaker 2: Exactly. And this is at odds with the attitude over 339 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: at the Yankees, also in New York, of course, who 340 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,100 Speaker 2: specifically do not want Black baseball fans at the park. 341 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,390 Speaker 2: And they make no secret of this. So Ricky starts 342 00:14:24,430 --> 00:14:27,970 Speaker 2: to focus on Jack specifically. He's heard about his several 343 00:14:28,010 --> 00:14:30,850 Speaker 2: brushes with the law that Jackie's had in the past. 344 00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:34,060 Speaker 2: And he's actually drawn to this because he knows that 345 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:36,420 Speaker 2: whomever the first Black player is in the major leagues 346 00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:40,940 Speaker 2: is going to face significant pushback. So he wants someone 347 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,470 Speaker 2: who has experience with this and someone who can take 348 00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:48,330 Speaker 2: it in a way and has the urge to fight back, 349 00:14:48,750 --> 00:14:51,410 Speaker 2: but also has the strength to temper this urge. So 350 00:14:51,490 --> 00:14:54,770 Speaker 2: has been tested. And has come out a better person 351 00:14:54,810 --> 00:14:55,110 Speaker 2: for it. 352 00:14:55,410 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 3: So it's any black player. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 353 00:14:59,430 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 2: No, that's a good point. Meanwhile, Jack and Rachel get 354 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:05,860 Speaker 2: married in February of 1946. He's 26 and she's 23. 355 00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:09,140 Speaker 2: And for a season, he plays in Montreal with the Royals, 356 00:15:09,420 --> 00:15:11,550 Speaker 2: which is the Dodgers farm team, kind of like a 357 00:15:11,590 --> 00:15:15,930 Speaker 2: tryout team. And then later that year, he and Rachel 358 00:15:15,970 --> 00:15:18,630 Speaker 2: have their first child together named Jackie Jr. What are 359 00:15:18,650 --> 00:15:19,150 Speaker 2: you laughing at? 360 00:15:19,490 --> 00:15:21,130 Speaker 3: When you said Royale like that, I was going to 361 00:15:21,150 --> 00:15:21,910 Speaker 3: say Royale with cheese. 362 00:15:21,930 --> 00:15:22,050 Speaker 1: I know. 363 00:15:22,070 --> 00:15:22,790 Speaker 2: I always want to do that. 364 00:15:22,830 --> 00:15:23,910 Speaker 3: And then I said, stop talking. 365 00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:29,830 Speaker 2: Stop it. For the following season in the spring of 1947, 366 00:15:29,830 --> 00:15:32,410 Speaker 2: Jackie is called up to the major leagues and makes 367 00:15:32,450 --> 00:15:36,270 Speaker 2: his debut at Ebbets Field with the Dodgers on April 15th. 368 00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: In his opening game against the Boston Braves, who would 369 00:15:40,430 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: later move to Milwaukee and later Atlanta. You knew that. 370 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:44,460 Speaker 3: I knew that whole journey. 371 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: Same. 372 00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:47,630 Speaker 2: Same. Jackie does not get a hit, but he also 373 00:15:47,710 --> 00:15:50,610 Speaker 2: doesn't strike out. In the bottom of the seventh inning, 374 00:15:50,870 --> 00:15:54,450 Speaker 2: Jackie tries to bunt a runner ahead, which would generally 375 00:15:54,510 --> 00:15:57,330 Speaker 2: result in him being thrown out. I don't know what 376 00:15:57,350 --> 00:15:59,770 Speaker 2: I'm saying right now. But he's so fast, he forces 377 00:15:59,830 --> 00:16:02,910 Speaker 2: a throwing error and gets on base because of that. 378 00:16:03,370 --> 00:16:06,570 Speaker 2: Which is crazy. Yeah, it's big. He ends up scoring 379 00:16:06,650 --> 00:16:10,710 Speaker 2: the go-ahead run. And then it says in front, Allie wrote, 380 00:16:10,730 --> 00:16:13,290 Speaker 2: the run that breaks a tie, putting the batting team 381 00:16:13,410 --> 00:16:16,650 Speaker 2: in the lead. Got it. And the Dodgers win 5-3. 382 00:16:16,730 --> 00:16:18,450 Speaker 2: So he does win his first game, even though he 383 00:16:18,470 --> 00:16:19,110 Speaker 2: didn't score. 384 00:16:19,130 --> 00:16:20,930 Speaker 3: Well, it sounds like he was kind of the reason 385 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:21,770 Speaker 3: that Steph. 386 00:16:21,570 --> 00:16:22,750 Speaker 2: Scored, though. Yeah, exactly. 387 00:16:22,790 --> 00:16:23,070 Speaker 3: That's good. 388 00:16:23,470 --> 00:16:25,190 Speaker 2: And it should be mentioned that the Dodgers at this 389 00:16:25,230 --> 00:16:28,250 Speaker 2: time are often bad, beginning each season with high hopes 390 00:16:28,330 --> 00:16:31,500 Speaker 2: and generally ending in disappointment. But the previous season, they 391 00:16:31,530 --> 00:16:34,380 Speaker 2: had placed second in the National League, and the hope 392 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 2: is that this will finally be their year. So teams 393 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,410 Speaker 2: vote to strike about the integration. But ultimately, though, no 394 00:16:41,450 --> 00:16:44,590 Speaker 2: teams actually strike. Instead, they play the games as scheduled. 395 00:16:44,690 --> 00:16:47,950 Speaker 2: But this means Jackie faces constant physical and verbal abuse 396 00:16:47,990 --> 00:16:51,510 Speaker 2: from opposing players and fans. When the Phillies come to 397 00:16:51,570 --> 00:16:54,970 Speaker 2: Ebbets Field, their manager, Ben Chapman, not only joins his 398 00:16:55,010 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 2: players in taunting Jackie from the dugout, but he leads 399 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,700 Speaker 2: the taunts. He relentlessly yells racist jeers at him throughout 400 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,740 Speaker 2: the entire game. So he's playing against that, too. He 401 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,780 Speaker 2: also encounters physical abuse on the field. Pitchers throw the 402 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 2: ball at his head. When he's batting, Jackie has to 403 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,540 Speaker 2: be moved from second base to first base to make 404 00:17:14,580 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 2: it less likely that runners will purposely slide into him 405 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: with their spikes. Because, you know, you slide into second. 406 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 407 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:20,980 Speaker 2: I know that. 408 00:17:21,780 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 3: Into third? 409 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: Second and third. 410 00:17:23,619 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 3: Oh, okay. 411 00:17:23,820 --> 00:17:26,060 Speaker 2: They move to first. But it still happens several times 412 00:17:26,100 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 2: during that first season, even though it's not fucking necessary. 413 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:31,170 Speaker 3: Yeah, no one's sliding into first and somehow he's still 414 00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:31,670 Speaker 3: getting him. 415 00:17:31,930 --> 00:17:35,250 Speaker 2: Exactly. Jackie's performance grows steadily better and better over the 416 00:17:35,330 --> 00:17:38,189 Speaker 2: course of the season. I mean, he's the guinea pig. 417 00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:40,430 Speaker 3: He's the Ruby Bridges of baseball. 418 00:17:40,450 --> 00:17:40,580 Speaker 1: Right. 419 00:17:40,619 --> 00:17:42,180 Speaker 2: And he's like, well, I'm going to prove them. 420 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:43,100 Speaker 3: But he's not six years old. 421 00:17:43,180 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: Right. 422 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:45,220 Speaker 3: Yes. Yeah. 423 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:49,740 Speaker 2: He's getting hits and the Dodgers are winning games. Jackie 424 00:17:49,780 --> 00:17:52,460 Speaker 2: plays with a level of speed and daring that is 425 00:17:52,570 --> 00:17:55,250 Speaker 2: unusual in the major leagues, but is more common in 426 00:17:55,290 --> 00:17:58,070 Speaker 2: the Negro Leagues where he first played professionally. So this 427 00:17:58,130 --> 00:18:01,050 Speaker 2: is nothing for him. He's known for stealing bases, particularly 428 00:18:01,090 --> 00:18:04,949 Speaker 2: for stealing home, which isn't normal. It requires perfect timing 429 00:18:05,020 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 2: and judgment. By the summer, the Dodgers are in first 430 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,270 Speaker 2: place in the National League. Jackie is a local hero 431 00:18:11,330 --> 00:18:14,149 Speaker 2: in New York, and he's a national hero on the road, 432 00:18:14,350 --> 00:18:17,490 Speaker 2: attracting new Black fans who want to watch him play 433 00:18:17,609 --> 00:18:19,270 Speaker 2: in every city the Dodgers go to. 434 00:18:19,470 --> 00:18:21,590 Speaker 3: That must have been so exciting. 435 00:18:21,630 --> 00:18:21,810 Speaker 1: Yeah. 436 00:18:21,990 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 2: I think we've got some photos from that era. Show 437 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 2: him in his military uniform. 438 00:18:26,380 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 3: My God. I know. 439 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: Wow. Oh, the photo of him stealing a base. 440 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 3: Yeah. Oh, my God. So good. It almost makes you 441 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 3: want to follow sports or something. It seems like they're 442 00:18:37,420 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 3: doing exciting stuff over there. Yeah, that's crazy. 443 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: So that same summer, Cleveland, an American League team, also 444 00:18:44,580 --> 00:18:48,550 Speaker 2: signs a black player, Larry Dobby. Now Major League Baseball 445 00:18:48,619 --> 00:18:51,710 Speaker 2: is integrating in both leagues because, you know, there's two 446 00:18:51,770 --> 00:18:53,970 Speaker 2: and then they play against each other. That's right. I 447 00:18:54,010 --> 00:18:54,310 Speaker 2: know that. 448 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:55,510 Speaker 3: I sure do know that. 449 00:18:56,250 --> 00:18:59,050 Speaker 2: After winning a series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the 450 00:18:59,090 --> 00:19:02,649 Speaker 2: Dodgers become the National League champions again. Jackie has the 451 00:19:02,750 --> 00:19:06,910 Speaker 2: most home runs, doubles, runs scored, and has the most 452 00:19:06,950 --> 00:19:09,550 Speaker 2: stolen bases in the entire National League. 453 00:19:10,170 --> 00:19:12,070 Speaker 3: A.K.A. fuck you. 454 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:14,210 Speaker 2: Exactly. Come at me, bro. 455 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. 456 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 2: The World Series ends in heartbreak, though, when the Dodgers 457 00:19:17,980 --> 00:19:20,740 Speaker 2: lose in seven games to the Yankees. Oh, that had 458 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: to hurt. 459 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 3: But they got there. It was so much further than 460 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:24,860 Speaker 3: they were. 461 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,619 Speaker 2: That's right. In the 1948 season, Jackie hits about as 462 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,180 Speaker 2: well as he had previously, but he has fewer stolen 463 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,860 Speaker 2: bases and the Dodgers don't do as well. But in 1949, 464 00:19:34,859 --> 00:19:37,900 Speaker 2: they once again win the National League pennant but lose 465 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,139 Speaker 2: to the Yankees again in the World Series. In 1950, 466 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:44,150 Speaker 2: Jackie plays himself in the movie The Jackie Robinson Story, 467 00:19:44,390 --> 00:19:47,070 Speaker 2: and this, to some extent, enshrines some of the myths 468 00:19:47,970 --> 00:19:51,180 Speaker 2: that are bandied about about Jackie never fighting. back and whatnot. 469 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:53,740 Speaker 2: In reality, during this era in his baseball career, he 470 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,020 Speaker 2: was actually becoming more bold in challenging umpires when they 471 00:19:57,060 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 2: made bad calls against him, which were likely influenced by racism. Yeah. 472 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:01,780 Speaker 1: Yeah. 473 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:02,540 Speaker 3: My God. 474 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,739 Speaker 2: At this point, there are a handful of Black players 475 00:20:04,850 --> 00:20:07,990 Speaker 2: scattered across the major league and several on the Dodgers field. 476 00:20:08,390 --> 00:20:11,730 Speaker 2: On one occasion, an anonymous letter threatens to kill Jackie 477 00:20:11,790 --> 00:20:15,390 Speaker 2: Robinson and Don Newcomb, another black player, if they enter 478 00:20:15,430 --> 00:20:19,330 Speaker 2: the field in Cincinnati. FBI agents position themselves all over 479 00:20:19,350 --> 00:20:22,090 Speaker 2: the stadium, but nothing happens. Throughout the first half of 480 00:20:22,109 --> 00:20:25,300 Speaker 2: the 1950s, the Dodgers have some great seasons but never 481 00:20:25,340 --> 00:20:28,419 Speaker 2: get that World Series win. Jackie's also faced with the 482 00:20:28,460 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 2: setback of being diagnosed at the age of 33 with 483 00:20:31,820 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: diabetes and heart disease. 484 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:33,419 Speaker 1: Mm-hmm. 485 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,510 Speaker 2: He doesn't bring this diagnosis up with the team, and 486 00:20:36,570 --> 00:20:39,669 Speaker 2: with treatment, he's still playing well. He and Rachel have 487 00:20:39,710 --> 00:20:42,689 Speaker 2: two more children at this point, Sharon and David. Actually, 488 00:20:42,710 --> 00:20:47,590 Speaker 2: let's see the family photo. It's so cute. I know. 489 00:20:48,190 --> 00:20:50,650 Speaker 2: So cute. Got all his trophies, too. 490 00:20:50,970 --> 00:20:51,210 Speaker 1: Yeah. 491 00:20:51,550 --> 00:20:53,810 Speaker 3: I bet there's a lot of pressure. It's like, your 492 00:20:53,890 --> 00:20:54,850 Speaker 3: uncle was an Olympian. 493 00:20:54,890 --> 00:20:55,190 Speaker 1: Right. 494 00:20:55,210 --> 00:20:57,830 Speaker 3: Your father is the best baseball player ever. 495 00:20:57,890 --> 00:20:58,410 Speaker 1: No. Right. 496 00:20:58,530 --> 00:21:01,050 Speaker 2: Well, the Dodgers keep losing the World Series to the Yankees. 497 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 2: Robinson is critical of the team as a racist institution 498 00:21:05,020 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 2: and points out in interviews that they have yet to 499 00:21:07,140 --> 00:21:10,070 Speaker 2: integrate the Yankees, while at this point many other teams 500 00:21:10,130 --> 00:21:13,730 Speaker 2: in baseball have. And Rachel herself says she finds this 501 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:18,149 Speaker 2: northern flavor of racism even more insidious than in the South. 502 00:21:18,740 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 2: because it pretends not to be racist. 503 00:21:20,580 --> 00:21:21,899 Speaker 3: That's fucking right on. 504 00:21:21,980 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. She encounters it repeatedly when they try to buy 505 00:21:24,460 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 2: a house in Westchester and in Connecticut, and sellers either 506 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,290 Speaker 2: refuse to show their homes or yank them off the 507 00:21:30,330 --> 00:21:32,050 Speaker 2: market when the Robinsons make an offer. 508 00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 3: Wait, I think you're about to tell my favorite story. 509 00:21:34,859 --> 00:21:36,090 Speaker 2: About Carly Simon's family? 510 00:21:36,109 --> 00:21:36,389 Speaker 3: Yeah. 511 00:21:36,490 --> 00:21:36,869 Speaker 2: Oh, my God. 512 00:21:36,910 --> 00:21:41,150 Speaker 3: I didn't know this. I saw TikTok. And it was 513 00:21:41,210 --> 00:21:43,409 Speaker 3: just like, wait, what? And then I was like, is 514 00:21:43,450 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 3: this real? It's real. 515 00:21:44,780 --> 00:21:49,940 Speaker 2: Finally. Singer Carly Simon's mother, Andrea Simon. This blew my mind, too. 516 00:21:50,380 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 2: whose husband is co-owner of Simon & Schuster. 517 00:21:53,220 --> 00:21:54,500 Speaker 3: Yeah, she's big money. 518 00:21:54,980 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. 519 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,300 Speaker 3: That's the book publishing company. 520 00:21:57,460 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 2: I had no idea. 521 00:21:58,340 --> 00:21:58,500 Speaker 3: Yeah. 522 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 2: So the Carolee Simons family helps the Robinsons buy property 523 00:22:01,940 --> 00:22:05,859 Speaker 2: in Stanford, Connecticut, and the Robinsons live with the Simons 524 00:22:05,940 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 2: while their house is being built. 525 00:22:07,660 --> 00:22:10,100 Speaker 3: So essentially, like, they went in and basically did all 526 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 3: the paperwork as if they were the ones doing it. 527 00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:12,540 Speaker 2: Yeah. 528 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 3: And got everything approved. 529 00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:15,270 Speaker 2: And then let them live there. 530 00:22:15,290 --> 00:22:15,510 Speaker 3: Yeah. 531 00:22:15,530 --> 00:22:19,389 Speaker 2: It's so incredible. That's like beyond Yeah. Just being friendly. 532 00:22:19,570 --> 00:22:21,610 Speaker 3: You know what I mean? Yes, exactly. Well, that's you 533 00:22:21,630 --> 00:22:24,090 Speaker 3: have your eyes on like a real future of how 534 00:22:24,150 --> 00:22:26,110 Speaker 3: it's supposed to be as opposed to what it's like 535 00:22:26,150 --> 00:22:28,070 Speaker 3: right now. And then you're doing something to try to 536 00:22:28,109 --> 00:22:28,530 Speaker 3: get there. 537 00:22:28,910 --> 00:22:32,540 Speaker 2: Exactly. The Robinson kids are the first black kids in 538 00:22:32,580 --> 00:22:36,139 Speaker 2: their school, and they are excluded from country clubs, hockey 539 00:22:36,220 --> 00:22:42,300 Speaker 2: rinks and dance schools. In 1955, the Dodgers once again 540 00:22:42,420 --> 00:22:45,219 Speaker 2: faced the Yankees in the World Series. Jackie, in his 541 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,940 Speaker 2: mid-30s at this point, is not as fast as he 542 00:22:48,020 --> 00:22:50,460 Speaker 2: once was. I guess in baseball, that's old. 543 00:22:50,940 --> 00:22:51,830 Speaker 3: It's very important. 544 00:22:51,850 --> 00:22:56,410 Speaker 2: Yeah, mid-30s. But he steals home for the 19th time 545 00:22:56,450 --> 00:22:59,730 Speaker 2: in his career during this series. In Game 7, the 546 00:22:59,790 --> 00:23:04,410 Speaker 2: Dodgers win, earning the Dodgers their first championship in their 547 00:23:04,430 --> 00:23:05,409 Speaker 2: 72-year history. 548 00:23:05,830 --> 00:23:07,969 Speaker 3: I just realized that in the other two times when 549 00:23:08,010 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 3: they lost to the Yankees, that was Brooklyn versus New 550 00:23:11,859 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 3: York City. 551 00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:12,430 Speaker 1: Yeah. 552 00:23:12,830 --> 00:23:14,530 Speaker 3: That had to be a fucking— That's so intense. 553 00:23:14,570 --> 00:23:16,830 Speaker 2: That had to be wild. 554 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:17,410 Speaker 3: Crazy. 555 00:23:17,850 --> 00:23:20,310 Speaker 2: And they do it with roughly equal numbers of black 556 00:23:20,530 --> 00:23:24,410 Speaker 2: and white players in the lineup against the all-white Yankees. 557 00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:25,050 Speaker 3: Yes. 558 00:23:25,090 --> 00:23:26,409 Speaker 2: That had to feel so good. 559 00:23:26,430 --> 00:23:26,910 Speaker 3: So good. 560 00:23:26,930 --> 00:23:27,570 Speaker 2: I wish I was there. 561 00:23:27,770 --> 00:23:28,850 Speaker 3: I know. That's good. 562 00:23:29,310 --> 00:23:31,929 Speaker 2: Jackie plays one final season with the Dodgers, helping them 563 00:23:32,030 --> 00:23:35,129 Speaker 2: once again win the National League Championship. And they lose 564 00:23:35,150 --> 00:23:38,570 Speaker 2: to the Yankees in the 1956 World Series, unfortunately. 565 00:23:38,590 --> 00:23:38,669 Speaker 1: Yeah. 566 00:23:39,230 --> 00:23:42,489 Speaker 2: Jackie retires at the age of 38. His legacy has 567 00:23:42,590 --> 00:23:45,210 Speaker 2: opened the door for some of baseball's greatest players like 568 00:23:45,290 --> 00:23:51,250 Speaker 2: Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, who will become legendary. In 1958, 569 00:23:51,250 --> 00:23:54,540 Speaker 2: the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles because they don't 570 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 2: agree with New York City planner Rob Moses' plan to 571 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,340 Speaker 2: move the stadium to Queens. Moses' vision for New York 572 00:24:01,380 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 2: was car-centric, and achieving this vision— to move to Queens 573 00:24:05,780 --> 00:24:10,300 Speaker 2: would destroy a lot of minority neighborhoods. But then, you know, 574 00:24:10,660 --> 00:24:12,500 Speaker 2: let's talk about Chavez Ravine for a hot minute. 575 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:14,699 Speaker 3: But it's how they do it every time. Where are 576 00:24:14,740 --> 00:24:15,860 Speaker 3: we going to put this freeway? 577 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:17,740 Speaker 2: Yeah, like that's not what this is about today. But 578 00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:20,390 Speaker 2: let's not forget Chavez Ravine, which is a vibrant working 579 00:24:20,410 --> 00:24:24,649 Speaker 2: class Mexican-American community in Los Angeles at one point. Anyway, 580 00:24:24,750 --> 00:24:27,909 Speaker 2: in 1962, Jackie is inducted into the Baseball Hall of 581 00:24:27,950 --> 00:24:31,550 Speaker 2: Fame in his first year of eligibility. Throughout the 1960s, 582 00:24:31,750 --> 00:24:35,270 Speaker 2: he participates in the civil rights movement, joining Martin Luther 583 00:24:35,290 --> 00:24:38,870 Speaker 2: King Jr. for many events and speaking engagements. The whole 584 00:24:38,930 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 2: Robinson family attends the march on Washington in August of 1963. 585 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,580 Speaker 2: Jackie writes newspaper columns expressing his support for candidates whom 586 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:50,340 Speaker 2: he thinks will further civil rights causes. Jackie also helps 587 00:24:50,619 --> 00:24:54,700 Speaker 2: open the Freedom National Bank, a Black-owned bank that focuses 588 00:24:54,780 --> 00:24:58,100 Speaker 2: on securing loans for Black people who were discriminated against 589 00:24:58,140 --> 00:25:01,220 Speaker 2: by other financial institutions, and the bank's a big success. 590 00:25:01,540 --> 00:25:05,710 Speaker 2: In 1971, Jackie Robinson Jr., their first child, dies in 591 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 2: a car accident at the age of 24. He had 592 00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:12,459 Speaker 2: fought in Vietnam, struggled with and overcame a drug addiction 593 00:25:12,530 --> 00:25:15,730 Speaker 2: after returning home, and had become a counselor for other 594 00:25:15,770 --> 00:25:21,130 Speaker 2: people battling addiction. Uh-huh. Just one year later, Jackie Robinson 595 00:25:21,170 --> 00:25:24,149 Speaker 2: dies at the age of 54 of a heart attack 596 00:25:24,250 --> 00:25:26,210 Speaker 2: in October of 1972. 597 00:25:26,190 --> 00:25:29,650 Speaker 3: His life, the amount of stress that man had to 598 00:25:29,790 --> 00:25:34,010 Speaker 3: just deal with for his entire career and life is wild. 599 00:25:34,030 --> 00:25:35,070 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 600 00:25:35,150 --> 00:25:35,510 Speaker 3: Crazy. 601 00:25:35,850 --> 00:25:38,090 Speaker 2: While he's having a heart attack, he comes running out 602 00:25:38,130 --> 00:25:41,890 Speaker 2: of his room, hugs Rachel, and says, I love you 603 00:25:42,130 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 2: to her as he sinks to the floor. 604 00:25:44,130 --> 00:25:44,190 Speaker 1: Oh. 605 00:25:45,260 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 2: She was the love of his life. Oh. Just nine 606 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:52,820 Speaker 2: days before his death, he had thrown out the ceremonial 607 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 2: first pitch at the World Series in Cincinnati, the city 608 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,010 Speaker 2: where he had received death threats 30 years earlier. 609 00:25:59,030 --> 00:25:59,100 Speaker 3: God. 610 00:25:59,869 --> 00:26:02,629 Speaker 2: Jackie had made a brief speech at the appearance saying, quote, 611 00:26:09,770 --> 00:26:12,469 Speaker 2: when I look at that third base coaching line one 612 00:26:12,510 --> 00:26:16,290 Speaker 2: day and see a black face managing in baseball, end quote. 613 00:26:16,369 --> 00:26:20,390 Speaker 2: This will happen a few years later in 1975. Many 614 00:26:20,430 --> 00:26:23,310 Speaker 2: people believe that the integration of baseball was a pivotal 615 00:26:23,390 --> 00:26:26,950 Speaker 2: moment that helped give rise to the later civil rights movement. 616 00:26:27,530 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 2: In the Ken Burns documentary, President Barack Obama says, quote, 617 00:26:31,619 --> 00:26:34,959 Speaker 2: Jackie Robinson laid the foundation for America to see its 618 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:39,210 Speaker 2: black citizens as subjects and not just objects. It meant 619 00:26:39,250 --> 00:26:41,730 Speaker 2: that there were six and seven and eight-year-old boys who 620 00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:45,290 Speaker 2: suddenly thought a Black man was a hero, end quote. 621 00:26:45,990 --> 00:26:50,050 Speaker 2: Jackie's wife, Rachel Robinson, is still alive and recently celebrated 622 00:26:50,130 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 2: her 104th birthday in this past July, 2026. 623 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:57,820 Speaker 3: Does she still live in her house in Connecticut? 624 00:26:57,940 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 2: I don't know. In 1973, after her husband's death, she 625 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 2: started the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides scholarships and mentoring 626 00:27:06,460 --> 00:27:10,409 Speaker 2: opportunities to minority students. She did this in addition to 627 00:27:10,450 --> 00:27:12,070 Speaker 2: being a psychiatric nurse. 628 00:27:12,650 --> 00:27:13,250 Speaker 1: Hey. 629 00:27:13,270 --> 00:27:13,969 Speaker 2: Like your mom. 630 00:27:14,130 --> 00:27:14,810 Speaker 3: Hey there. 631 00:27:14,930 --> 00:27:18,660 Speaker 2: An assistant professor at Yale and a director of nursing 632 00:27:18,740 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 2: at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. Wow. So this woman 633 00:27:22,220 --> 00:27:23,740 Speaker 2: on her own is just legendary. 634 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:24,060 Speaker 1: She is. 635 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,100 Speaker 3: If she's anything like my mother, she's not fucking around. 636 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,850 Speaker 2: She never remarried. Oh, don't even. 637 00:27:30,950 --> 00:27:31,410 Speaker 3: I know. 638 00:27:31,430 --> 00:27:31,550 Speaker 1: I know. 639 00:27:31,790 --> 00:27:32,070 Speaker 2: I know. 640 00:27:32,109 --> 00:27:32,490 Speaker 1: It's hard. 641 00:27:33,190 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: In 1997, Jackie's number, 42— is retired from all of baseball, 642 00:27:39,980 --> 00:27:43,429 Speaker 2: meaning that no player can wear it again. It's common 643 00:27:43,450 --> 00:27:46,090 Speaker 2: for individual teams to retire a number for one of 644 00:27:46,130 --> 00:27:48,950 Speaker 2: the grades. I didn't know this, but Jackie's the only 645 00:27:49,030 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 2: player to have his number retired across all of baseball. 646 00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 2: She's going to cry, you guys. 647 00:27:54,740 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 3: Well, I was going to yell, fuck all y'all. But 648 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 3: that's because I really just want to cry. Because this 649 00:28:00,420 --> 00:28:02,900 Speaker 3: is a man who then, he had to be the 650 00:28:02,980 --> 00:28:06,070 Speaker 3: cutting edge. He had to be, he was the tool 651 00:28:06,130 --> 00:28:09,590 Speaker 3: by which all of that integration happened. And then he 652 00:28:09,630 --> 00:28:11,950 Speaker 3: got to live to see the day where it was 653 00:28:12,050 --> 00:28:13,869 Speaker 3: happening and was real. 654 00:28:14,230 --> 00:28:17,430 Speaker 2: On April 15th each year, the anniversary of Jackie's first 655 00:28:17,580 --> 00:28:21,300 Speaker 2: major league game, all major league players wear special uniforms. 656 00:28:21,810 --> 00:28:25,670 Speaker 2: with his number, 42, in observance of Jackie Robinson Day. 657 00:28:25,690 --> 00:28:29,810 Speaker 2: And that is the story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. 658 00:28:30,010 --> 00:28:30,629 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, I. 659 00:28:30,869 --> 00:28:33,070 Speaker 3: Think this change of pace suits us. 660 00:28:33,170 --> 00:28:33,610 Speaker 2: Yeah. 661 00:28:33,630 --> 00:28:36,980 Speaker 3: Because we get to enjoy a new thing. We get 662 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,660 Speaker 3: to meet a hero. I've watched a some stuff on 663 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,830 Speaker 3: Jackie Robinson, but it is just so incredible to hear 664 00:28:42,850 --> 00:28:47,950 Speaker 3: the details of what a difficult life adds up to. 665 00:28:48,390 --> 00:28:51,950 Speaker 3: The thing you can't imagine or think about or rarely 666 00:28:51,990 --> 00:28:55,060 Speaker 3: do when you're in the shit is that the shit 667 00:28:55,210 --> 00:28:58,020 Speaker 3: is the stairs by which you climb up to the 668 00:28:58,060 --> 00:29:00,620 Speaker 3: top and you got to get in there and do it. 669 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,700 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely. And the inspiration you can be to other people. 670 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,180 Speaker 3: You can play first base, Georgia. 671 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:06,260 Speaker 1: Me? 672 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:07,500 Speaker 3: Yes, or third. 673 00:29:07,590 --> 00:29:08,380 Speaker 2: No, thank you. 674 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:08,930 Speaker 3: Yes, you can. 675 00:29:09,050 --> 00:29:10,370 Speaker 2: I'll get a hot dog. 676 00:29:10,390 --> 00:29:11,090 Speaker 3: Put your hand up. 677 00:29:11,250 --> 00:29:13,930 Speaker 2: Cheer it on. Put your... No hot. 678 00:29:13,790 --> 00:29:17,610 Speaker 3: Dogs on this team. Get serious. 679 00:29:17,750 --> 00:29:18,330 Speaker 1: Amazing. 680 00:29:18,370 --> 00:29:20,990 Speaker 2: Well, that was... Yes, great job. Thank you so much. 681 00:29:21,050 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 2: I was excited to do that one. That is a 682 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: solo episode. 683 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,620 Speaker 3: When will it come out? 684 00:29:26,020 --> 00:29:26,700 Speaker 2: Who knows? 685 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 3: What will happen? 686 00:29:27,820 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: Oh, my God. 687 00:29:28,660 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 3: Well, until that happens, stay sexy. 688 00:29:30,380 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 2: And don't get murdered. 689 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 3: Goodbye. 690 00:29:31,820 --> 00:29:34,210 Speaker 2: Goodbye. Elvis, do you want a cookie? 691 00:29:42,220 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 3: This has been an Exactly Right production. 692 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 2: Our managing producer is Molly Smith. 693 00:29:46,180 --> 00:29:48,100 Speaker 3: Our consulting producer is Kate Schellenbach. 694 00:29:48,220 --> 00:29:49,940 Speaker 2: Our creative lead is Allison Agosti. 695 00:29:50,270 --> 00:29:53,010 Speaker 3: Our associate producer is Tessa Hughes, and our editor is 696 00:29:53,150 --> 00:29:54,310 Speaker 3: Aristotle Acevedo. 697 00:29:54,510 --> 00:29:56,630 Speaker 2: This episode was mixed by Liana Squalacci. 698 00:29:56,830 --> 00:29:59,430 Speaker 3: Our researchers are Maren McGlashan and Allie Elkin. 699 00:29:59,630 --> 00:30:03,210 Speaker 2: Email your hometowns to myfavoritemurder at gmail.com and follow the 700 00:30:03,250 --> 00:30:05,130 Speaker 2: show on Instagram at myfavoritemurder. 701 00:30:05,390 --> 00:30:08,690 Speaker 3: Listen to My Favorite Murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 702 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,180 Speaker 3: or wherever you get your podcasts. 703 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 2: Or watch new episodes every week on Netflix. Search for 704 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 2: My Favorite Murder, add us to your list, and hit 705 00:30:15,860 --> 00:30:19,620 Speaker 2: the double thumbs up button. Goodbye.