Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers didn’t just want Jackie Robinson for his talent. He wanted him for his character. Rickey knew the man who broke baseball’s color line would face mental and physical abuse, and he needed someone strong enough to take it without fighting back. On April 15, 1947, Robinson played first base for Brooklyn in his major league debut. He faced teammates and crowds who didn’t want him there, plus threats against himself and his family. He handled it with honor and grace. At the end of that first season, he was named Rookie of the Year. Holding back when you could swing isn’t weakness. It takes more strength than most people will ever know.
