OREYO H AINLBSBL ALO FAME OF HALL BASEBALL NATIONAL THE OF COURTESY FEATURE

WHEN LEADERSHIP THE RACIAL SMASHED BARRIER IN THE SPRING OF 1947, JACKIE ROBINSON BECAME THE FIRST reservations to stay in the Oliver Hotel, but when the AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO PLAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. IN 1948, hotel manager saw Charles Thomas in the lobby, he LARRY DOBY BECAME THE FIRST TO PLAY IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE. declared that only whites were welcome there. Rickey BOTH HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME; ordered a cot for Thomas to be put into his own room. DOBY’SINDUCTION WAS IN JULY OF 1998. BRANCH RICKEY WAS THE “Under no circumstances,” he said firmly, “will I leave or MAN WHO SET IT ALL IN MOTION. allow Thomas to be put out.” Without Charles Thomas in his memory, Branch Rickey f all the unusual personalities ever seen in may not have been as willing to endure the struggles of the baseball, no one matches the late Branch 1940s. But his desire to change baseball’s racial climate Rickey — not Casey Stengel, Leo also came out of his Christian faith, which is why he made Durocher, or George Steinbrenner. the decision to bring a black player to the Dodgers. This baseball genius served as chief The man would have to be gifted and tough enough, executive officer for the St. Louis though, to withstand the beanballs and body blocks that Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and the would come his way; intelligent, articulate and morally Brooklyn Dodgers between 1917 and upright so that bigoted critics could not get to first base; and 1955. Fortunately for baseball, Rickey was a he must be willing to receive abuse without returning it. Ovisionary leader. Without his high ideals and courage the O Rickey’s scouts found him a player. At UCLA, he “color barrier” of baseball might have lasted much longer. starred in football, basketball and track as well as in base- Branch Rickey first confronted baseball segregation ball. Twice he led the PAC 10 in basketball scoring and in when he began coaching for Ohio Wesleyan University. his junior year he earned All-American honors in football. The team included one black man, Charles Thomas. At In track, he won the NCAA championship for the long the opening of the rookie coach’s first game the opposing jump, and he hit .466 one year in baseball. His name? team players came onto the field, took one look at Jackie Robinson. Thomas, and said they wouldn’t play. Rickey walked over Branch Rickey admired Robinson’s strength but he wor- to the opponents’ bench, pointed a finger at their coach ried about his defiance. Yes, he had enough spirit to break and shouted, “You will play Charles Thomas or you won’t play baseball’s color barrier, but could he walk the emotional OWU.” His players practiced for an hour before the visi- tight rope required of a racial pioneer? Or would he lash tors finally agreed to play. Rickey, only 21 years old, had out in rage and ruin the cause? stood his ground — and won. The two men met in Rickey’s Brooklyn office on August The next season Rickey’s OWU team was in South 28, 1945. Rickey stunned him when he said, “I brought Bend, Indiana, to play Notre Dame. The team had made

BY BILL HORLACHER

SUCCESS FACTORS 5 V OLUME I NUMBER 1 FEATURE “ is afraidtofightback?” Robinson, field withyourBrooklynteamifthatboyRobinsonisinuniform.” version. HereadtoRobinson, an atheistbutonewhohadexperiencedastunningcon- out abookbyGiovanniPapini,anItalianoncefamousas Rickey saidashereachedintohisdeskdrawerandbrought you heretoplayfortheBrooklynDodgers—ifcan!” “The RacialBarrier” continued from page5 Philadelphia. HetoldRickey, toplayin by fansifRobinsoncamewiththeDodgers example, thePhillies’generalmanagersaidhefearedariot closest friendontheteam—andhisgolfingbuddy. but unexpectedlychosenotto.HelaterbecameRobinson’s W movement mighthavebecomeamajorthreatexceptforPee ifablackmandid.The would notplayfortheDodgers Several oftheplayerssignedapetitionstatingthatthey reporters’ attacksandalsosupportRobinson? 60s bynowandsufferingfromMeniere’s Disease,copewith constant abusehewouldreceive?CouldRickey, inhismid- challenge oftheirlives.CouldJackieholdupunderthe Rickey knewthatthe1947seasonwouldbegreatest can youdoit?” years inbaseballyouwillturntheothercheek.Three— assure you,” game 9-0[thescoreforanyforfeit],wewilldojustthat,I that, niggerboy?’” white playerlaughsinyourface,andsneers,’Howdoyoulike and cutsyouontheleg.Asbloodrunsdownyourleg, base —youaretheshortstopandplayerslides,spikeshigh, ee Reese.ReesewasexpectedtosidewithJackie’s foes, “I’m lookingforaballplayerwithgutsnottofightback!” Robinson askedRickey, “Suppose,” “If Ican!” Rickey wasreadywithafirmreply. The nexttestsweretocomefromopposingteams.For ranks. The firstmajortestcamefromwithinDodger Butbothheand Jackie wasreadyfortheDodgers. “Mr. Rickey,” Rickey laidthebookdown. can conquerhisenemies.” oneself aslowhe....Onlyhewhohasconqueredhimself deeds, istomeettheattackeronhisownground,proclaim flight....To answer blowswithblows,evildeeds perfect, arecertainlysuperiortothoseofresistanceor ery...the resultsofnonresistance,eveniftheyarenotalways it ismoralcourage,therarestandmostdifficultsortofbrav- “Every manhasarespectforcourageinothers,especiallyif HAPPY MAKE OTHERS POWER TO “you willhavetopromisemethatforthefirstthree he said. sputtered Robinson. said Rickey, said JackieRobinson, V LM NUMBER I OLUME “a playercomesdownfromfirst “Are youlookingforaNegrowho “We won’t beabletotakethe “Now,” “I’ve gottwocheeks.” “If wemustclaimthe he saidto STEGETS ASSET GREATEST THE IS NTEWORLD THE IN 1 6 league teamshadatleastoneblackplayer. outlawed segregationinAmerica’s schoolsmanymajor American League.SevenyearsbeforetheSupremeCourt Larry DobysignedwithCleveland,thefirstblackin America’s mostpopularfigures,secondonlytoBingCrosby. poll takenattheendof1947revealedhimtobeone fans, bothwhiteandblackrespondedtohim.Anational a World in1955.Asforthe SeriescrownfortheDodgers Most Valuable Playerawardin1949,whenhehit.342;and the World Series.FollowingsuccessesbroughtJackiethe Rookie oftheYear to awardandhelpedtaketheDodgers that firstseason,ledtheleagueinstolenbases,won Jackie’s performanceandinthefanresponse.Hehit.297 the Robinsonstotheirhomeandtookthemonpicnics. lems, though,RickeyandhiswifeJaneregularlyinvited bled morethaneverbyhisdisease.Despiteownprob- tives —andplentyofhatemail.Asaresult,hewastrou- Robinson. Rickeygotflakfrommanyotherbaseballexecu- open allhismail. office many ofthemthatRickeyfinallyhadtheDodger comb iftheywantedtoavoiddisease. nottotouchJackie’stold theotherDodgers towels or yelled uglythingsaboutRobinsonandhiswife,they Jackie,” the NegroesthananywhitemansinceAbrahamLincoln.” down thecolorbarrierinour‘nationalgame,’hedidmorefor carefully thesamewouldhavebeentrue.” had notconceivedandimplementedhisplansointelligently years beforebaseballwasintegratedonthefield.ButifRickey burdens thatfewofuscanevenimagine,itmighthavebeen capable ofdealingwithpsychologicalpressuresandpersonal such asuperior—andintelligentathlete,ifhehadnotbeen author ofthebook:GrandSlam,Heroes ofMajorLeagueBaseball. business. Heisalsoawidelyrespected journalist,screenwriterand zation dedicatedtohelpingAsianleaders understandAmericanlifeand Bill HorlacheristhepresidentofBridgesInternational,aglobalorgani- chance. Baseballowesthembothagreatdebt. Branch Rickey’s leadershipandfaithinactiongavehimhis summarizes thestorythisway, must believeinthedoctrineof‘LovingGodandone’s brothers.’” make othershappyisthegreatestassetinworld,Ithink.We faith hadmovedhimtosignRobinson.Hewrote boss.Hesaid, to hisDodger done whathedidthosefirsttwoorthreeyears.” Rickey wasthrilled. and Other blacksfollowedRobinsontotheDodgers, The eventualvictorysoonbecameobvious,bothin The firstseasontookaheavytollonbothRickeyand And thedeaththreats—Robinsonwasreceivingso The Philliesplayed,but,ledbytheirmanager, they Jackie Robinson’s couragebrokebaseball’s colorbarrier. Duke UniversitypublicpolicyprofessorRobertD.Behn Rickey frequentlyremindedpeoplethathisChristian Robinson neverdidstopexpressinghissincerethanks UCS FACTORS SUCCESS he said. “I don’t thinkany other man...couldhave “God waswithmewhenIpicked “I reallybelievethatinbreaking “If Robinsonhadnotbeen ” SF “Power to