Branch Rickey
A Life
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3.9 • 25 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The book that inspired Harrison Ford in his portrayal of Branch Rickey in the hit movie “42”
The idea of integrating baseball began as a dream in the mind of Branch Rickey. In 1947, as president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, he defied racism on and off the field to bring Jackie Robinson into the major leagues, changing the sport and the nation forever. Rickey's is the classic American tale of a poor boy from Ohio whose deep-seated faith and dogged work ethic took him to the pinnacle of success, earning him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame and in history.
Bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jimmy Breslin is a legend in his own right. In his inimitable anecdotal style, he provides a lively portrait of Rickey and his times, including such colorful characters as Dodgers' owner George V. McLaughlin ("dubbed George the Fifth" for his love of Scotch); diamond greats Leo Durocher, George Sisler, and Dizzy Dean; and Robinson himself, a man whose remarkable talent was equaled only by his resilience in the face of intolerance. Breslin brings to life the heady days when baseball emerged as the national pastime in this inspiring biography of a great American who remade a sport-and dreamed of remaking a country. See Branch Rickey’s life brought to the screen in the hit movie “42” in theaters everywhere now.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Pulitzer Prize winning Breslin offers this slim biography on baseball manager and executive Branch Rickey, a man Breslin refers to as a Great American. What results is a well-rounded look at a man who not only reformed competitive sports but also influenced the norms of society by helping Jackie Robinson break baseball s color barrier. Born to a tight-knit family in Ohio in the late 19th century, Rickey s career as a major league player didn t last long (as a catcher, he once allowed 13 stolen bases in a game), so he graduated from law school and became the manager of the St. Louis Browns. Yet his most far-reaching achievements happened decades later during his time in Brooklyn, when he shook baseball to its foundations by bringing Robinson to the Dodgers. Rickey as general manager knew there would be backlash and Robinson would be subject to rampant racism, but he was undeterred and never stooped to the level of those who attempted to sabotage his work. As he later told a group of students, racial extractions and color hues and forms of worship become secondary to what men can do. Breslin s gift for easy-to-read yet hard-hitting prose will touch even those who aren t baseball fans.
Customer Reviews
Disappointing at best
I was highly anticipating reading this after reading the SI review. Rickey has long been a great figure in American history. This book is poorly written, and seems at times to read like pages are missing.