Branch Rickey: Review

A book, barely larger than the leaflet about famous Jewish sports legends, and with a very simple title: Branch Rickey. Jimmy Breslin, author, journalist and Pulizer Prize winner, wrote the 146 page book which came out in 2011.

The title covers the subject in the most evident way. It’s about one of the most important people ever in baseball history. Branch Rickey was a man of God. He believed to his core that man was equal. No matter the color. If you were good in something, you had to get the opportunity to do it.

The book follows Rickey from his succesful days in St. Louis to Brooklyn. He struggled to get the Ives-Quinn Bill signed, but succeded. It opened the way for Jackie Robinson to play in the majors. There is some mention of Robinson’s struggles with racism.

It’s not a pretty written book, very matter of fact full. It’s not entirely correct. Jackie didn’t play his first World Series in 1952, but in 1947. Near the end Breslin finds it neccesary to mention that the Brooklyn team plays in LA now…

It’s a good read when you want to dip your toe in the Rickey story, and the Robinson story for that matter. A good start, but there are more books about these two that go the extra yard.