Last week we started our journey through the long, slow process that spread integration from the Brooklyn Dodgers throughout the league with that first year, 1947.
1. So, as I'll get to a little bit in Part 3, the bulk of integration really happened on 3 teams: the Dodgers, the Giants, and the Indians. Two of those teams happened to be in the NL, and they happened to be rivals, AND they also won 8 of 10 pennants between 1947-56, so there was something of an arms race in the NL to get the best players from the Negro leagues. But it spread to even other NL teams pretty slowly.
2. Seems like it was really the college thing that did it for Robinson...
1. Why did the American League integrate so much more slowly? Is there any particular reason, or is that just how it worked out?
2. It's wild that Branch Rickey picked Jackie Robinson over Jethroe apparently because Jethroe was too cool...
1. So, as I'll get to a little bit in Part 3, the bulk of integration really happened on 3 teams: the Dodgers, the Giants, and the Indians. Two of those teams happened to be in the NL, and they happened to be rivals, AND they also won 8 of 10 pennants between 1947-56, so there was something of an arms race in the NL to get the best players from the Negro leagues. But it spread to even other NL teams pretty slowly.
2. Seems like it was really the college thing that did it for Robinson...