Jackie Robinson in an Interesting Baseball Headline from 1950!

When I begin writing a new book, I like to look at the headlines of the day to immerse myself in the time period and find interesting pieces of news to weave into my stories to help readers do the same. There was a bit of baseball news that got my attention from January 1950, while researching for The Final Song. I love Major League Baseball and am a huge Atlanta Braves fan! Even though my Braves aren’t having the best year, I still support them.   

On January 24, 1950, the famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson, made big news! According to Dodgers Nation, he signed a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers for $35,000. At the time, it was the largest deal in the team’s history. Was it worth it for the team? Apparently, yes as Jackie went on to hit .328 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs. He also made the All-Star team for the second straight season. I would say that was a good year!

Jackie Robinson’s career is inspirational. He broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, not long after World War II. In ten years and 1,382 games with the Dodgers, he had 141 home runs, 761 RBIs, 286 doubles, 55 triples, and 756 walks plus 200 stolen bases. For his long-term success, Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1962. Well deserved! Wish we had a Jackie Robinson on my Braves team right now!

“Did you hear the Dodgers are paying Jackie Robinson $35,000 this year?” Sheffield asked the table, well everyone but her. What did she care what a baseball player was making to hit a ball?

“I read that in the paper,” Edwin answered first. He was sharing another meal with his in-laws. With Ava gone, he had a lot of time to read.        

“He’s gonna choke,” Grandpa Chester said out of one side of his mouth as the other side chewed on a bite of pork chop. “They all do when they start getting the big bucks.”

Edwin laughed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sheffield disagreed, holding his fork mid-air as if it were really something to ponder. “He seems to work well under the pressure.”

The Final Song, Chapter 10

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