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The Autobiography of a Boy of Summer Who Became a Man for All Seasons
Before Barry Bonds, before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.
I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment"—Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.
More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.
Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.
| Introduction | ix | |
| Introduction | xv | |
| Preface: Today | xxi | |
| The Noble Experiment | ||
| I | A Dream Deferred | 3 |
| II | The Noble Experiment | 26 |
| III | Breaking the Color Barrier | 37 |
| IV | The Major Leagues | 53 |
| V | "Just Another Guy" | 71 |
| VI | My Own Man | 78 |
| VII | The Price of Popularity | 87 |
| VIII | The Growing Family | 104 |
| IX | The Ninth Inning | 116 |
| After the Ball Game | ||
| X | New Horizons | 125 |
| XI | Campaigning for Nixon | 135 |
| XII | The Hall of Fame Award | 141 |
| XIII | Conflict at the Apollo | 145 |
| XIV | Crises at Home | 151 |
| XV | On Being Black Among the Republicans | 162 |
| XVI | Differences with Malcolm X | 176 |
| XVII | The Freedom Bank | 183 |
| XVIII | Hope and Disillusionment in White Politics | 198 |
| XIX | The Influence of Martin Luther King, Jr. | 210 |
| XX | Jackie's Prison | 217 |
| XXI | Politics Today | 236 |
| XXII | "... And He Was Free" | 244 |
| XXIII | Aftermath | 259 |
| XXIV | Epilogue | 268 |
Anonymous
Posted Wed Jan 26 00:00:00 EST 2005
The autobiography of America's most celebrated baseball hero-Jackie Robinson, was first African American man with enough talent to breack through into the 'white man's' world of porfessional sports. It¿s the story of a man of courage and conviction, from his early days working in Los Angles for the NAACP, supporting Richard Nixon, and battled diabetes. The book tells a life of both tragic and triumphant. He was the grandson of a slave. He was saved from becoming a juvenile delinquent by the affection and guidance of his mother, a sympathetic friend, and a young minister. His talent for all sports made him the first four-letter man in the history of UCLA. While there, he met Rachel Isum, who became, and remains today, the most important person in his life, his wife. A good book!!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Great story about race relations in Baseball and the US during the era. I read this on vacation during the 50th march on Washington celebrations and it was very relevant to today. my only disappointment is that not enough is known about Jackie in his after life of Baseball
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 2007
Jackie Robinson I found this book on Jackie Robinson very interesting. It was crull the way they treated black people back in the 1940¿s. In the 1940¿s discrimination was still among the country. Jackie Robinson wanted to play regular baseball. Instead the manager of the league sent to play in the Negro League. Only cause they didn¿t allow black people in their league. He wanted to play one game in the MLB (major league baseball) and when he got up to bat the fans in the stands threw soda cans, food, and they all started yelling at the manager for letting him play. His first at bat the pitcher threw a pitch right at his head because they thought he was different from everybody else. Later on after the game Jackie was beat up in the parking lot of the field. Then after four years in the MLB they finally accepted him for who he was! I thought that this book was a good choice for anyone who was wondering what life was like back then.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2006
I DON'T LIKE TO READ MANY AUTOBIOGRAPHIES, BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE JACKIE ROBINSON IS TELLING HIS STORY. HE WENT THROUGH SO MUCH FROM BEING THE FIRST PLAYER TO INTEGRATE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. TO FIGHTING FOR PEOPLES RIGHTS AT A TIME THAT AFRICICAN AMERICANS COULD NOT SPEAK OUT WITHOUT BEING DISCRIMINATED. THIS BOOK THAT JACKIE TOLD WAS PHENOMINAL, AND JACKIE SAID IT BEST, ' I WAS A BLACK MAN IN A WHITE WORLD' I NEVER HAD IT MADE.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013
You dont have to be a fan of sports to enjoy this book. The historical significance alone is incredible. Great read. You will not be disappointed.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I went to see the movie and it was good. But the n word is used so much and i feel bad for him. But every year the MLB has a Jackie Robinson day and every playerbin the MLB wears the # 42 because Jackie made it possable for colored people to play non-colored sports.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2013
If its about jackie robinson it must be great "42" the movie! rocked!
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Loved the book. Well worth the read.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I found out that there was more to Jackie Robinson then just basball
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Posted Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I had read about Jackie Robinson since I was a teenager. This is unique because it is from his own mouth.
Further, it shed light on the civil rights movement and the politicians of the times. So there was a lot of fairly recent history.
Anonymous
Posted Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Great story, very inspiring
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Posted Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I GREW UP IN AN AREA OF CALIFORNIA WHERE I WAS NOT EXPOSED TO DISCRIMINATION, BUT JACKIE DIDNT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AS AN AMERICAN.
SHAME ON ALL OF US.
THIS WAS A VERY GOOD LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES AT IT WORST AND BEST.
BROVO TO THE WRITER FOR CAPTURING OUR AMERICAN
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon May 26 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Jackie robinson wuz 1 ov the GR8EST baseball playerz in baseball history!! I WISH I had a chance 2 meet him & in my opinion, he helped brake down barrier 4 african americans in order 2 have the chance 2 play baseball that we thought WUZ "MEANT 4 WHITE PEOPLE" BUT THAT AIN'T TRUE!! IM GLAD THAT THAY BROKE IT!! Tanner Tan-Man LeSueur
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Posted Sat May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Great book to read
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Posted Sat May 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Seen the movie and loved the book . Sometimes i wish life was easy i mean im not the prettyest and i now for a fact the quarterback isnt wrapped around my fingers but danm its hard to be me. I just need someone to talk to any one wanna talk
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Posted Sun Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Bo
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014
An insightful look into the hardships and triumphs this great man and athlete endured!
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Posted Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This gives you wonderful insight on Jackie Robinson's life before and after baseball that 42 did not show. The movie was awesome, and after reading this, I felt it really tied up the loose ends. Truely amazing! Rest in peace Jackie Robinson and Jak Robinson Jr. :)
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Posted Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2014
A GREAT read for people that are interested in the life of Jackie Robinson!
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Posted Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2014
I haven't finished reading Jackie's story but oh I am so glad I started it. I hope he realizes in Heaven the legacy he left behind.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
The Autobiography of a Boy of Summer Who Became a Man for All Seasons
Before Barry Bonds, before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black ...