The Signing

by user LouGehrig

by Harold Friend

April 11, 1947

The New York Times headline on April 11, 1947 was similar to baseball headlines fans had read hundreds of times. "Royals' Star Signs With Brooks Today." The Montreal Royals were the Brooklyn Dodgers' top minor league team and the story under the headline revealed that the Dodgers had purchased the contract of the Royals' second baseman, a player named Jackie Robinson. Brooklyn and the New York Yankees were ending the exhibition season with a three game series at Ebbets Field, and Robinson would make his debut against Brooklyn's Bronx rivals.

Jack Robinson had been a star in baseball, football, and track at the University of California at Los Angeles. After graduation, Robinson served in the armed services, entering as a private and leaving as a lieutenant. He played second base for the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1946, winning the batting title with a .349 average. When questioned what position Robinson would play for Brooklyn, general manager Branch Rickey replied that decision would be made by the new Brooklyn manager. The problem, albeit a good problem, was that Brooklyn was set at second base with Eddie Stanky, which meant that Robinson might play first base.

April 12, 1947

In his Brooklyn Dodgers' debut, Jackie Robinson went hitless in three official at bats but still managed to drive in 3 runs and handle 15 chances flawlessly at first base as Brooklyn beat the Yankees, 14-6, scoring 11 runs in the fifth inning. Robinson wore number 42.

April 13, 1947

With the Yankees leading Brooklyn 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Jackie Robinson came to the plate with runners on first and second and one out to face the Yankees' Super Chief, Allie Reynolds. Robinson had flied out to deep center field in his first at bat. Reynolds, working deliberately, came to the stretch, checked the runners, and delivered. Robinson swung at hit a hard ground ball between third baseman Billy Johnson and shortstop Phil Rizzuto into left field for a base hit. Pete Reiser, the runner on second, raced around third and scored Brooklyn's first and only run. Jackie Robinson had his first hit as a Brooklyn Dodger.

April 14, 1947

The Yankees beat Brooklyn 10-9 in the final game of the 1947 exhibition season for both teams. Jackie Robinson, who had a single and drove home 2 runs, came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs and Clyde King at second base, representing the potential tying run. Yankees' right hander Randy Gumpert retired Robinson on a foul pop up that catcher Aaron Robinson snared to end the game.

The Brooklyn Dodgers started the 1947 season without a manager. Leo Durocher, who became the Brooklyn manager in 1939, was suspended by commissioner Happy Chandler for allegedly consorting with gamblers, bookmakers, and individuals with "mob" connections. Chandler discovered that Durocher and actor George Raft may have run a crooked craps game in which a player lost a large sum of money. The player was never named, but in 2002, Eldon Auker, who had been a Detroit Tigers' pitcher, wrote that the victim was former Detroit pitcher Dizzy Trout. When Durocher was suspended, it was for "the accumulation of unpleasant incidents that were detrimental to baseball."

Veteran baseball man Clyde Sukeforth took over as Brooklyn's interim manager during the exhibition season, and on April 19, general manager Branch Rickey announced that old friend Burt Shotton, a veteran of the baseball wars since 1913, would take over as Brooklyn manager. The sixty two year old Shotton was completely surprised when he received Rickey's wire asking him to fly from his Florida home to New York.

"Mr. Rickey wired me at my home in Bartow, Florida last night and told me to fly to New York for a conference. When I arrived this morning, I asked him, 'What's this all about?' Then he offered me the Dodger job and I took it. No, I haven't any contract. I'm just here. I haven't had a contract in all the years I've held jobs with Mr. Rickey as a player, manager or coach, so I didn't think it necessary to bother about one now. I won't put on a uniform -- that's part of the deal. I took it off for the last time several years ago."

The St. Louis Cardinals won the National League pennant in 1946 when they defeated Brooklyn in a best of three playoff series. The teams finished the season tied for first place in the eight team league, forcing the first playoff series in baseball history. Entering the 1947 season, Brooklyn had a solid team, but not one without question marks. Eddie Stanky was set at second base, Bruce Edwards was the catcher, and PeeWee Reese was the shortstop, but third base, the outfield, and especially first base presented problems. Ed Stevens, the regular first baseman, batted only .242 with 10 home runs. The Dodgers hit only 55 home runs in 1946, despite playing in what is now considered a bandbox. Jackie Robinson was given the opportunity to solve the first base problem, and did he ever.

References:

Effrat, Louis. "Royals' Star Signs With Brooks Today; International League Batting Champion Will Bid for Job in Big League Infield." The New York Times, 11 April 1947, p. 20. Effrat, Louis. "Brooks Win, 14-6 With 11 Run Fifth; Robinson Starts At First in Dodger Debut. Jackie Fields 15 Chances Flawlessly." The New York Times, 12 April 1947, p. 12.

Effrat, Louis. "Yankees' 11 Hits Beat Dodgers, 8-1 for Series Lead; Robinson Blow Scores Reiser and Saves Losers From Ebbets Field Shut-Out." The New York Times, 13 April 1947, p. 113.

Effrat, Louis. "Bombers' 4 in 9th Down Brooks, 10-9; Yankees Take Spring Series With Dodgers, 5 Games to 3 in See-Saw Struggle." The New York Times, 14 April, 1947, p. 19.

Sheehan, Joseph M. "Shotton, 62 Year Old Veteran, Takes Over as Brooklyn Pilot; Former Manager of Phils, in Baseball Since 1913, to Direct Until Durocher's Return -- Will Be Civilian-Suit Bench Manager." The New York Times, 19 April 1947, p. 18.

"Leo Durocher." <>

Rogers, Thomas. "Leo Durocher, Fiery Ex-Manager, Dies at 86."