Title/Author:
“Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season” by Jonathan
Eig, narrated by Richard Allen
Tags:
Baseball, Dodgers, history, race, audio book
Publish date:
March 20, 2007
Length:
336 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
When Jackie Robinson
made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947 it marked a seismic
shift in the culture of baseball and America.
How Robinson and his Dodgers fared during that season is the subject of
this wonderfully written book by Jonathan Eig. It not only talks about
Robinson, but also about how his teammates and opponents reacted to the first African-American
player in the major leagues.
In his typical style,
Eig not only writes about the season, but also includes much background
information that is pertinent to the story.
The reader will learn about Robinson’s childhood, his meeting with
Branch Rickey and the discussion they had when Rickey decided that Robinson
would be the best man to break the color barrier, and also about some of the
mythical stories that have been passed down through the generations.
There are two stories
in particular that Eig questions the authenticity of the myths. One is the hug
that Robinson supposedly received from teammate Pee Wee Resse. There are conflicting stories about whether
this actually took place and Eig cites many sources that question this
event. The other story that Eig
addresses fairly is about Dodger Dixie Walker, who was a Southern man who allegedly
was so upset about Robinson’s presence that he was calling for the other Dodgers
to boycott the team and would not accept Robinson as a teammate. That myth is questioned as well and Eig comes
to the conclusion that Walker and Robinson at least co-existed peacefully.
Those are just two
examples of the complete, balanced and well-researched writing Eig displays
throughout the book. There are also sections
on other related topics, such as the opponents for the Dodgers in the 1947
World Series, the New York Yankees. Even
their superstar, Joe DiMaggio, is covered in the book. There is even a humorous line about DiMaggio’s
health issues that season, stating that DiMaggio “was a lot like many European nations
at that time – frail and vulnerable.” Lines
like this are occasionally placed in the book and keep it as a fun read as
well.
A wonderful book on
baseball and society in the 1940’s, “Opening Day” is recommended for all
readers who are interested in Jackie Robinson, racial integration or baseball history.
Book Format Read:
Audiobook
Buying
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