New Book Release: True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson by Kostya Kennedy

True is a probing, richly-detailed, unique biography of Jackie Robinson, one of baseball's―and America's―most significant figures.

For players, fans, managers, and executives, Jackie Robinson remains baseball’s singular figure, the person who most profoundly extended, and continues to extend, the reach of the game. Beyond Ruth. Beyond Clemente. Beyond Aaron. Beyond the heroes of today. Now, a half-century since Robinson’s death, letters come to his widow, Rachel, by the score. But Robinson’s impact extended far beyond baseball: he opened the door for Black Americans to participate in other sports, and was a national figure who spoke and wrote eloquently about inequality.

True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson by Kostya Kennedy is an unconventional biography, focusing on four transformative years in Robinson's athletic and public life: 1946, his first year playing in the essentially all-white minor leagues for the Montreal Royals; 1949, when he won the Most Valuable Player Award in his third season as a Brooklyn Dodger; 1956, his final season in major league baseball, when he played valiantly despite his increasing health struggles; and 1972, the year of his untimely death. Through it all, Robinson remained true to the effort and the mission, true to his convictions and contradictions.

Kennedy examines each of these years through details not reported in previous biographies, bringing them to life in vivid prose and through interviews with fans and players who witnessed his impact, as well as with Robinson's surviving family. These four crucial years offer a unique vision of Robinson as a player, a father and husband, and a civil rights hero―a new window on a complex man, tied to the 50th anniversary of his passing and the 75th anniversary of his professional baseball debut.

CHECK OUT TRUE:The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson on Amazon

Dusty Baker laments lack of African-Americans in baseball

Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game.

“It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever … but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of increasing,” Baker said Wednesday.

Only 7.7% of big league players on opening day rosters last year were African American, down from 17% in 1990. Baker and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only two African American managers in the majors.

Baker appreciates that the league is making a “conscious effort” to get more young African Americans involved in baseball through programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and is optimistic there can be a turnaround in the upcoming years.

“Hopefully in this decade and the next decade there will be more guys that get a chance,” Baker said. “All they need is a chance. A lot of guys have been bypassed and overlooked.”

Robinson broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His No. 42 was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997 by then-Commissioner Bud Selig. An annual Jackie Robinson Day started in 2004 and since 2009, all players, managers, coaches have worn his No. 42 to mark the day.

Baker didn’t have the opportunity to meet Robinson but heard plenty of stories about him from Hank Aaron and other players and managers. He idolized Robinson growing up because of stories his father told him from the time he was a young child.

“He was a man that made it possible for me to not only play but manage and gave us all a great sense of pride about being a black American,” Baker said.

[SOURCE: AP]

Today, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day!

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Major League Baseball and the Jackie Robinson Foundation will hold their annual celebration on social media platforms and online by streaming content related to Jackie Robinson.

Since 2009, players, managers and coaches we are the number 42 on the back of their jerseys to mark the day.

Robinson is celebrated on this day because April 15th marks the day when the color barrier was broken in Major League baseball when Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This year is the 73rd anniversary dating back to 1947.

Kerwin Danley to be named first African-American MLB crew chief

Major League Baseball announced has announced that umpire Kerwin Danley will be promoted to crew chief. Danley will be the first African-American crew chief in MLB.

Danley, 58, called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a minor league fill-in and was hired as a full time big league up in 1998. He has worked two World Series and has worked ten other postseason rounds. He has also called two All-Star Games.

Danley called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a fill-in and was hired to the MLB staff in 1998.

Frank Robinson, first black baseball manager, dies at 83

Frank Robinson, the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win MVP in both leagues, has died at age 83, MLB said Thursday.

An outfielder and first baseman, Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 in his first year of eligibility.

A fearsome hitter, Robinson ranks 10th on the career home runs list with 586. He won the Triple Crown with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 and became the first black manager in MLB history in 1975 with the Cleveland Indians.

He also served as MLB's executive vice president of baseball development, with his focus on increasing African-American participation in the sport. He later served as a senior adviser to commissioner Rob Manfred.

Read more: Frank Robinson, MVP, first black manager, dies at 83

Orioles' Adam Jones contributes $8.5K to help Mamie Johnson Little League team

When a Washington, D.C., Little League team reached out for help to fund a trip to an upcoming tournament, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones was ready with a response -- and a check.

Jones agreed Friday to contribute $8,500 toward bus transportation for the Mamie Johnson Little League team, which will represent the nation's capital in the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament starting Sunday in Bristol, Connecticut.

"It's a blessing for the kids and the families,'' Keith Barnes, the league president, told ESPN. "For them to experience this opportunity and for him to help us, it just means the world to these kids. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, so it's a great gesture. And we really appreciate it.''

The Mamie Johnson team is the first predominantly black squad to advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional -- the final obstacle to a spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Of the 12 players on the roster, 11 are African-American.

Jones' representatives at CAA Sports were in contact with Little League officials and finalized the details Friday. Barnes said the team had already received $15,000 in contributions before Jones became involved. Some of the funds were contributed by competing Little Leagues in the area. He said the surplus created by Jones' contribution will go toward enhancing future participation. The Mamie Johnson Little League players come from less-than-affluent circumstances, Barnes said, and the league charges only $20 to players' families as an initiation fee.

Jones, 33, has a long record of community outreach during his tenure with the Orioles. In 2015, he received the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award from the MLB Players Association, the Brooks Robinson Community Service Award from the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and the Governor's Service Award from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

Number of African American baseball players in MLB increases

Every year about this time we are normally discussing yet another decline in the number of African American players in Major League Baseball, but on this Jackie Robinson Day there is some good news on this front. George L. Cook III African American Reports.

It’s certainly not worth celebrating, but Major League Baseball has at least made back the loss of African American players that a year ago resulted in a historic low.

The African-American population increased to 7.8%, up from 7.1% a year ago, on Major League Baseball’s opening-day rosters and disabled lists, according to USA TODAY Sports' annual study.

It may not look like a significant increase, but it happens to be baseball’s largest growth since 2007-2008.

There are 68 African Americans on rosters, six more than a year ago, when baseball had its lowest percentage of black players since 1958.

Yet, despite the modest uptick, nearly one-third of all teams don’t have more than one African-American on their 25-man roster or DL.

“We’re starting to see some progress,’’ MLB executive vice president Tony Reagins says, “but is there a lot of work to be done? Absolutely.

“Our goal is to get our numbers back to 19% and 20%. That’s a lofty goal. But this isn’t a one-time effort. We are fully committed to this.’’

[SOURCE: USATODAY]

The annual conversation on the decreasing number of African Americans in Major League Baseball

Hi all, this George Cook of African American Reports. Baseball season has started and it's time for that annual conversation about the lack of black kids playing baseball and the decrease of black players in the Majors. Check out my thoughts below.

Philadelphia apologizes for 'virulent racism' directed at Jackie Robinson

The Philadelphia City Council on Thursday apologized for the "virulent racism" that Jackie Robinson faced in the city and from its hometown baseball team nearly 70 years ago.

Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, was viciously taunted by former Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman, as well as players, during his first season. In a scene captured in the film "42," Chapman led the bench in calling Robinson racial slurs and telling him to "go back to the cotton field."

Robinson was also refused a room at a local hotel when the Dodgers came to play in Philadelphia that year.

The city's governing body unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday declaring April 15, 2016, as a day "honoring the lifetime achievements and lasting influence" of Robinson and "apologizing for the racism he faced as a player while visiting Philadelphia."

The resolution, which will be sent to Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson.

[SOURCE]