I Never Had It Made: The Autobiography of Jackie Robinson - Softcover

Jackie Robinson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0880015446 ISBN 13: 9780880015448

Publisher: Ecco Press, 1997

Synopsis

I Never Had It Made celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into the major leagues. "A disturbing and enlightening self-portrait by one of America's genuine heroes."--Publisher's Weekly (starred review). photo insert.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The Autobiography of a Boy of Summer Who Became a Man for All Seasons

Before Barry Bonds, before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.

I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment"—Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.

More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.

Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.

About the Author

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was an American baseball player who became the first black Major League Baseball (MLB) player of the modern era.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0880015446
• ISBN 13: 9780880015448
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 275