On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson stepped onto Ebbets Field as a Brooklyn Dodger and changed American baseball forever.

The first black man to play in the white major leagues, he had the courage to confront racism and fight for the rights of all black people, on and off the baseball diamond. He shattered the color barrier, and with tremendous skill and determination, he became not only one of the most legendary baseball players of all time, but also a great American hero.

Half a century later, Jackie Robinson’s extraordinary story remains an important contribution to America’s favorite pastime and to American history.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6– Still another biography of the black baseball pioneer. Denenberg provides an even and straightforward account of Robinson’s life on and off the baseball diamond, balancing his athletic skills with his social significance and exploits outside of the sports arena. Occasional typos and errors in sports terminology do appear but are minor in context. A brief but interesting look at innovations to the game provided by the all-black baseball leagues will be of interest to serious baseball fans. The standard black-and-white photographs, many of which are found in the plethora of juvenile Robinson biographies that abound, are included here. No index or other appendixes are included. The reading level, writing style, and information is similar to Mark Alvarez’s The Official Baseball Hall of Fame Story of Jackie Robinson (S. & S., 1990). –Tom S. Hurlburt, Rio Rancho Public Library, NM

Publish Date : 1990-05-01