St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-02-02

town, NY, by the Baseball Wri
When Branch Hickey, then
ers, startled the sport world by
signing Jackie Roosevelt Robinson
to a major league contract back
in 1945, Teller, who had already
won immortality as a pitcher,
viewed the move as a notable ach-
ievement. However, he entertained
reservations as to whether Robin
son could make the grade in the
majors.
Football, Teller observed, was
not the best qualifier for a baseball
player. Teller felt that the rugged
gridiron sport placed too much
strain on an athletes legs. A good,
strong pair Of legs was essential
to baseball player, Teller declar-
ed. Robinson was a star football
player at U.C.L.A. during his COL
legiate career.
Terror On Base Paths
Yet, in Robinsons colorful base
ball career, it was his blazing speed
that played a great factor in his
success. He became a terror on
the base paths, reviving a feature
of the game that seemingly went
out with the end of the Ty Cobb
era.
However, in later years, Teller
was a good sport in recognizing
and praising Jackie's achieve
ments.
More than Teller realized, Rob-
inson had the ability, courage and
determination necessary to carry
him to the top. AS the first Negro
in organized baseball, Jackie need
ed all three qualities to succeed.
Trail Blazer
From the start, Jackie faced
seemingly unsurmountable barri-
ers. Baseball at the time he was
signed by Hickey was a rigidly
lilly-white sport. All previous at
tempts to break the race barrier
had failed. Those few "colored"
who repeatedly played in the Ma
tional League before him were
forced to identify themselves either
as Cubans or some other type of
foreign national. Robinson was an
American Negro who by his very
appearance, couldn't be anything
else. That he met and stood the
test is a tribute to his greatness.
It all started on an afternoon in
October, 1915. Robinson, engaging
in a game with the Kansas City
Monarchs of the Negro American
League, was seated in a dugout at
Chicagos Comiskey Park, when a
tall, angular white man made his
way toward him.
Sent To Sign Him
The man who approached Robin
son with a friendly smile and warm
handshake was Clyde Sukeforth,
then a coach with the Brooklyn
Dodgers of the National League.
When Sukeforth informed Jackie
that he had been sent by his boss,
Hickey, to sign him for the Dodg-
ers, Robinson refused to believe it.
Recalling that he had had a futile
tryout with the Boston Red Sox
of the American League, Robin
sons wry remark was: Are you
kidding?" But Sukeforth and the
Dodgers weren't kidding.
Sent To Montreal
Robinson was signed and sent to
Montreal, a Dodger farm team in
the International League, in as
bold a move as has ever been I'M
dertaken in American sports. Rob-
inson, however, was equal to the
task. He was a success from the
outset.
In his debut with the Montreal
Royals, Robinson dazzled a crowd
of $4,000 with his speed and hit
ting ability. He fielded superbly,
hit home run and drove in four
runs, as Montreal blasted Jersey
City, IA to 1.
Fame And Fortune
Several eyebrows were raised
that afternoon, but the perform
ance by the 2OO-pounder Robinson
was only a preview of things to
come. He went on to lead Montreal
to the International League title,
winning the leagu's batting champ
ionship in the process with an
average of .349, the first Royal
to top the league since James
Jones in 1908. 5000. Robinson
that year collected 1855 hits in 444
attempts, hit rs doubles, 8 triples,
8 home runs, drove in 65 runs and
stole 40 bases. He climaxed the
year at Montreal by leading the
Royals to the Little World Ser
les" title. The Royals beat Louis
Vile, games to 2.
Robinson's manager at Montreal
was Clay Hopper, a Southerner,
but he was quick to recommend
Jackie to Leo Durocher, then man
ager of the Dodgers. Robinson,