Research Method & Sources

Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers was highly anticipated by fans and many media outlets. The New York Times and Daily Worker (NY.) published several articles prior and after the occasion as well as the day when Robinson carried the bat with the Dodgers' uniform on in the ball park. The Pittsburgh Courier (PA.) - one of few black newspapers distributed nationally at the time - reported on the event with its National Edition and Washington Edition. I intend to analyze the use of language of these newspapers to picture the overall image of the scene on and off the field.

Originally, I was able to get a hold of Mr. William C. Rhoden, a sports columnist of the New York Times, for a phone interview. Mr. Rhoden published a book "Forty Million Dollar Slaves" in the summer of 2006 discussing the role of African American athletes in professional sports in contemporary history. However, the connection did not hold on.

Fortunately, Gabriel Schechter, a research associate at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, responded my email request for a phone interview. The former Oregon Duck's specialty in baseball education program with the museum shared his insights of the environment in baseball at the time. Therefore, I am able to understand incidents that words in the newspapers otherwise may not delivered.

I plan to analyze my primary sources that were published in the same day; therefore, I would be able to compare the use of language in various publications and the attitude of that particular media outlet toward Robinson. The research will picture the overall image of the environment that Robinson faced as he made his debut in the Big League.


Here is a list of primary and secondary sources that I would use for this research project:

Primary Sources:

Berry, Abner W. "Fans Welcome Jackie In Dodger Debut." Daily Worker 12 Apr. 1947 (Knight Library; microfilm)

Daley, Arthur. "Play Ball!" New York times 15 Apr. 1947 (Knight Library; microfilm)

Daley, Arthur. "Opening Day At Ebbets Field." New York Times 16 Apr. 1947 (Knight Library; microfilm)

"Dodgers Sign Robinson." Daily Worker 11 Apr. 1947 (Knight library; microfilm)

Effrat, Louis. "Royals' Star Signs with Brooks Today." New York Times 11 Apr. 1947 (Knight Library; microfilm)

Mardo, Bill. "'Robinson's a Dodger,' The Guy Said" Daily Worker 11 Apr. 1947 (Knight library; microfilm)

Rodney, Lester. "About Jackie and the Cheers." Daily Worker 15 Apr. 1947 (Knight library; microfilm)

Rodney, Lester. "Reiser Stars as Three-Run Rally in 7th Routs Sain." Daily Worker 15 Apr. 1947 (Knight library; microfilm)

Rodney, Lester. "'We Want Leo,' 'We're for Jackie.'" Daily Worker 12 Apr. 1947 (Knight library; microfilm)

Schechter, Gabriel. Telephone interview

Smith, Wendell. "Jackie Just Shaken Up in Collision at First; Ready to Play." Pittsburgh Courier 12 Apr. 1947, national ed. (Knight library; microfilm)

Smith, Wendell. "Dodgers Have Drawn 95,000 Fans in Four Exhibition Contests." Pittsburgh Courier 19 Apr. 1947, naitonal ed. (Knight Library; microfilm)


Secondary Sources:

Aaron, Henry. "The Trailblazer." Time 14 June 1999.

Weisman, Jon. "A new era dawns - Tensions mounted for Robinson on historic day." Sports Illustrated 14 Apr. 2007.