My grandfather…long before Jackie broke the color barrier.
Many people know the Jackie Robinson story as “he was the first player to break the color barrier”. The movie ‘42’ fills in some of the blanks, but it is more than a story about baseball. The casting was phenomenal. The script and score were pretty good, but Before we get into the movie, some background information may be necessary.
During the Civil War many soldiers (both black and white) passed time in camp by playing baseball. At the conclusion of the war, the game spread around the country and included both black and white professional players. In the later 1800’s many of the star white athletes, notably Cap Anson, made it clear that they would not play if there was a black player on the other team. So, in an effort to save money (no stars means fewer tickets sold), many clubs abided by a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” not to play any black players. Thus the color barrier was born. This segregation of players spawned the creation of the Negro Leagues – which prospered until the 1950’s.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 when he became a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers after playing a year with their Triple-A affiliate, the Montreal Royals. Robinson’s journey into the white league soon spelled doom for the successful Negro Leagues, as other Major League executives followed Branch Rickey and Bill Veeck’s (Veeck signed Larry Doby in 1947 as well) lead and signed other stars from the Negro Leagues.
‘42’ does a good job telling the foundation of the Robinson story, and gives the audience a taste of the struggle that Robinson, and his supporters, endured.
I enjoyed this movie. Jackie Robinson, though I never saw him play, is one of my heroes. His conviction, confidence, and faith are attributes that would benefit many of us. I needed this movie to be good, to not be a disappointment, to not just be a piece of entertainment. I needed it to tell a story. I needed it to be about more than baseball. And it was.
Though I was disappointed that the Negro Leagues were barely referenced (one quick scene) and even more disappointed that Larry Doby was never even mentioned (he was the first black baseball player in the American League and endured the same treatment as Robinson), I had to remember that this was a two hour movie. There is a lot of history involved in this journey and it won’t fit in 120 minutes of film.
What was impressive to me is that the film gave audience members a range of the experiences that Robinson was saddled with – none of which he could respond to in a negative or aggressive manner. The personal expectations that he had as a player. The pressure of being “the first”. The antagonizing that he received not only from opponents, but also teammates. The death threats. The physical provocations on the field. Being forced to use separate restrooms and hotels.
There is one powerful scene in particular. It is a series of three at bats during which the Philly manager stands on the field and verbally assaults Robinson while he bats– peppering him not only with insults, but a voluminous use of the ‘N’ word – which still stings even now in 2013. By the second at bat, I personally felt as though I wanted to pummel the manager. However, Robinson knew (and had promised Rickey such) that he would not respond to the taunts with profanity or violence. In the scene you see how his resolve almost dissolves. You also see how his experience affects his wife, teammates (those who are loyal), and Branch Rickey himself.
During the film, the phrase “God built him to last” is used multiple times. Watching this portrayal and knowing the history, I wondered if I could have lasted. It took less than two hours for me to get riled up – by actors. There were no breaks for Robinson. No second takes or chances. His treatment lasted more than a series of at bats, a game, a road trip, or a season. He did more than last. He inspired.
While I will say that ‘42’ misses some of the depth of the experience, I don’t think that was this film’s purpose. This film is about more than baseball. This is a story that needs to be told and remembered. This story was built to last.