Remembering OUR JACKIE.....

[DODGER DEB]

Today, January 31st, would have been OUR JACKIE'S 87th birthday.

http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/i/05/a5/1a/82_1.JPG

From an eBay listing.

Let's take a moment today to remember how HE enriched OUR lives in BROOKLYN, and all that HE did to make the game WE love so wonderful.

c.

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

A true American hero.

[crzblue]

Rest in Peace Jackie!

#42 lives in our heart.

[Mattingly]

He also took his rightful place as the centerpiece of the team:

http://www.stankotzen.com/brooklyn.jpg

Ever the gentleman, ever the great teammate!

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26878.jpg

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26890.jpg

[55 chmps]

He was the one who opened the doors for all African American athletes, he is a role model to many including me. So i say to this great man... happy birthday. I think we all wish you were still here.

[shlevine42]

The photo of Jackie with Rickey and Shotton prompted me to look in my files for my copy of Jackie's first ML contract, signed on April 11, 1947.

This photo could well be of that historic signing!

The contract notes that Jackie got $5,000 for his first year in Brooklyn.

Rickey got some bargain.

And we got a national treasure.

[strummer]

That is not the 1947 signing photo, shlevine42. Shotten was not there for opening day (April 15, I believe); Sukeforth managed the first game, as interim manager. Shotten arrived to replace the suspended Duroucher the next day.

[shlevine42]

That is not the 1947 signing photo, shlevine42. Shotten was not there for opening day (April 15, I believe); Sukeforth managed the first game, as interim manager. Shotten arrived to replace the suspended Duroucher the next day.

You're right, strummer. Sukeforth managed the first TWO games that year as interim manager before Shotton took over. And he won both!

Thanks for the correction.

[kramer_47]

Here is a very nice picture of Jackie.