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Baseball Trivia (General)/jackie robinson
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Question
what was the biggest impact Jackie Robinson had on major league baseball
I would say, and most people who follow baseball would probably agree, is that Jackie Robinson "opened the door" for African-American baseball players to play major league baseball - obviously he was a great player and his statistics speak for themselves but his major contribution was "breaking the color barrier" that had existed for decades - ironically I believe his entrance into major league baseball probably "doomed" Negro League Baseball as the great Negro League players would now be able to compete in the Major Leagues - for some including Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, "Cool Papa Bell" etc it was probably too late - for other such as the great Satchel Paige - he was able to finish up his career in the major leagues - for others such as Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, Junior Gilliam, Luke Easter, Don Newcombe etc the timing was just about right and of course for the thousands of future African-American ballplayers - the door was now "wide open"
To me, that was the major impact of Jackie Robinson on major league baseball and by the strength of his personality he was able to overcome a great deal of racial prejudice that existed at the time in the major leagues - and of course, in our society in general - remember how many African-American were given "menial" jobs during WWII or who were relegated to all-black units - remember the Tuskeegee Airmen, for example?
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Answers by Expert:
George W. Case III
Expertise
WW II era major league baseball history - questions about specific WWII era players, stadiums, life in the major leagues, teams, impact of major league baseball upon American society during WWII (FDR's "Green Light" letter to the then Commissioner of Baseball) and the relationship of President Roosevelt with Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith in an effort to keep baseball "alive" during the darkest days of WWII.
Experience
Son of a former major league baseball player, George Case Jr. who played in the major leagues from 1937-1947.
I was the former Executive Director of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research)
Have produced a DVD taken from my father's 8MM COLOR "home movies" of life in the major leagues from a ballplayer's perspective - currently marketing this DVD privately and also in conjunction with www.baseballdirect.com
Publications
SABR Bulletin - "Case's Corner" - newsletter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
"Growing Up at Griffith Stadium" - article published courtesy of The Big Train (Walter Johnson Baseball League) - Bethesda Maryland
Education/Credentials
BA - Rutgers University 1963
MA - Rider University 1979
Awards and Honors
Former Executive Director of SABR
Consultant and speaker - City of Trenton NJ baseball exhibit - "When Trenton Baseball Roared Like Thunder" - 1994
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