HOW TO BE LIKE JACKIE ROBINSON: LIFE LESSONS FROM BASEBALL’S GREATEST HERO

A book review by: Steve Amoia

Pat Williams, who was assisted by Mike Sielski, has written a book about a famous American baseball player. (Baseball has the same popularity in the USA as cricket enjoys in Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies.) More importantly, this is the story about a great American: Mr. Jack Roosevelt Robinson, a man of incredible courage, character and integrity. It is a story that transcends sports. This tale epitomizes the tremendous burden carried on the shoulders of one man and how the rest of us can benefit from his example in our daily working lives.

Legendary Athlete and Civil Rights Champion

“Jackie” Robinson was a star in the American Negro Leagues of baseball. He was a multi-sport legend at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) and also a former military officer. One of the painful ironies of the United States was that an African-American could die defending America on foreign lands, but he could not play in the Major Leagues (the highest division of American baseball.) Two men changed this injustice and altered the American sporting landscape forever: Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson, the first man to break the color line of professional baseball in 1947. This was the first act by Mr. Robinson as a life-long champion of civil rights.

Strength of Character for a Greater Good

This book is replete with inspirational quotes, along with the long road of courage that was taken by Mr. Robinson. He had to make a vow to Mr. Rickey that lesser mortals would have never considered for a day. Jackie Robinson had to promise never to retaliate against the racial slurs, insults and deliberate attempts to physically injure him during his first season with Brooklyn. Mr. Robinson was a proud man and a ferocious competitor. But he understood the challenge that awaited him, and in one of the most unselfish acts, sacrificed his own personal feelings for a greater good. His actions opened the doors for generations of African-American athletes, and also opened the eyes to the country at large. As Dr. Martin Luther King would eloquently state many years later (and I paraphrase) “A man should be judged by the content and quality of his character. Not by the color of his skin.”

A True Champion

If I take one thing away from this great book, it would have to be the initial meeting that took place between Mr. Rickey and Mr. Robinson. It set the tone for everything that would follow. Branch Rickey began to insult Robinson in every form possible as a means to “test” him.

“Anger smoldered within Robinson, but he remained quiet for awhile.’ Mr. Rickey, are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?’ ‘Robinson, I’m looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back.’ “

Learn from His Example at Work

In an American society that is becoming increasingly sensitive, bad-mannered and thin-skinned, we need to look at the sterling example of Mr. Robinson. The next time that a boss or colleague gets under your skin, think about Jackie Robinson and his unique workplace circa 1947. It might put the matter into its proper perspective.

To learn more about the book at Amazon.com, please click here.

My rating: *****

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is a contributor to NSoW and writes the World Football Commentaries blog.

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