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Image of Jackie Robinson from Back Cover of a Comic Book, 1956

Baseball and Jackie Robinson

 

Student Handout Two:
Analysis of Jackie Robinson's Letter

Read Jackie Robinson's 1950 letter to Branch Rickey, first page one and page two of the letter in its graphic form, and then the transcription of the letter. Answer the following questions, explaining your answers in one or two sentences:
1. In which form do you prefer reading the document? Is one form or the other more meaningful to you? Why?
 
2. Why do you think it was difficult for Robinson to write this letter to Rickey?
 
3. Why was Rickey's leaving Brooklyn harder on Robinson than on everyone else?
 
4. What did Robinson mean when he wrote, "Baseball is like that"?
 
5. What "small part" did Robinson play in contributing to Rickey's success in Brooklyn?
 
6. In your opinion, to what "misunderstanding" was Robinson referring?
 

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