Jackie Robinson and the nutted cream cheese sandwich

April 15th, 2016

Was Jackie Robinson Day

Celebrating the 69th anniversary of a major league baseball team

Permitting a black person to play

Robinson's Dodger career lasted for ten years

From its beginning in 1947 to its 1956 end
He subsequently became a VP of Chock Full of Nuts
Whose specialty was a nutted cheese sandwich on dark raisin bread

My connection with Robinson goes beyond watching him play

When he became a Dodger, he lived on Tilden Ave., an East Flatbush zone
About a 1/4 mile from my high school-Tilden High
And about 3/4 of a mile from my home

After a while most every Dodger fan knew where he lived

And many biked or walked past this address, which became quite renown
hoping to catch sight of Jackie at his modest rental residence
At the times when he was not playing out of town

I did this many times, but never caught site of Robinson

On one occasion a young black woman was sitting on his porch
When I asked if she was waiting for Jackie, she said she was his wife
And thus I met Rachel, now in her nineties, but still active though 94

Robinson was an excellent fielder and hitter

But in my mind his greatest ability was in stealing a base
In his first 3 years with the Dodgers he led the Nat’l League twice in steals
Becoming a legend as a base stealing ace

I saw Robinson play many times, and when on any base, he took a long lead

Just far enough to minimize his pick off exposure
He almost always drew many throws from the opposing pitcher
Clearly upsetting the pitcher's composure

Robinson's Dodger career came with significant opposition from many fans and teams

He was verbally abused by those who thought allowing a black to play was wrong
Pitchers threw fast balls at his head, and runners would slide into him aggressively
In an attempt to damage his legs, which on one occasion produced a gash six inches long

Even a number of Dodgers were reluctant to play with a black

Leo Duroucher was the Dodger manager, and letting Jackie play was his very strong view
He informed the team that Robinson would make them all rich
And promptly trading any player who refused to play with him was what he would do

Despite all the above, Robinson played many years at a very elite level

Because of his physical ability and mental toughness
He did not allow any abuse to detract from playing his best
Whatever he faced in verbal or physical roughness

In my mind he was the greatest base stealer there has ever been

And the bravest player in the history of major league ball
Jackie is dead, Ebbitt's field is gone, the Dodger's left Brooklyn
But the legend that was Jackie will forever loom tall

On a lighter note, I have a suggestion for all restaurant chains

On every future Jackie Robinson day
Put a nutted cream cheese sandwich on dark raisin bread on the menu
To celebrate Jackie's career in an additional way