Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersad

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Review by Mickey Craig:
Any baseball fan will find Arnold Rampersand's Jackie Robinson: A Biography an easy and pleasant read. Robinson's life (1912-1972) spans extraordinary changes in American life. From Robinson's encounter with Jim Crow in Florida after growing up in Pasadena to his ten year career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, his business ventures following retirement and finally his political activities on behalf of the Republican Party in the 1960s. Fascinating tidbits occur throughout, Branch Rickey's admiration of Abraham Lincoln and Rickey's understanding that he was implementing Lincoln's mission by integrating baseball. Rampersand finds it difficult to swallow Robinson's endorsement of Nixon over Kennedy in the 1960 election, as well as Robinson's opposition to the separatism of the Nation of Islam in the 1960s. A fun read.

Table of Contents

1. In Pharaoh's Land:Cairo, Georgia (1919-1920)

2. A Pasadena Boyhood (1920-1937)

3. Pasadena Junior College (1937-1939)

4. Blue and Gold at UCLA (1939-1941)

5. Jack in the World at War (1941-1944)

6. A Monarch in the Negro Leagues (1944-1946)

7. A Royal Entrance (1946)

8. A Brooklyn Dodger (1946-1947)

9. A Most Valuable Player (1947-1950)

10. Free at Last (1950-1952)

11. Dodging Blows, Fighting Back (1952-1955)

12. The Bottom of the Ninth (1955-1957)

13. Like Starting Over (1957-1960)

14. A New Frontier (1960-1964)

15. On the Killing Ground (1964-1968)

16. Rounding Third (1968-1971)

17. Heading Home (1971-1972)