What I Learned From Jackie Robinson: A Teammate's Reflections On and Off the Field
by Carl Erskine
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Book Summary Information
Author: Carl ErskineEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-01
ISBN: 0071450858
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Book Reviews of What I Learned From Jackie Robinson: A Teammate's Reflections On and Off the Field
Book Review: To Become Myself
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a rare little gem of a book. Carl Erskine ("Oisk") is one of the fabled Brooklyn Dodgers "Boys of Summer" whose Major League career paralleled that of Jackie Robinson, who became a mentor, an inspiration, and not least of all, a friend. WHAT I LEARNED FROM JACKIE ROBINSON is more than a memoir of their playing days together, it is an accidental philosophical reflection, a Zen statement on life.
Oisk was there for the institutional racism that forced Jackie to stay in separate hotels during road stands, he was there for catcalls and insults, and he was there to see Jackie Robinson transmute hatred into respect through the force of his own personality and talent.
"Be prepared. Be ready. Seize the opportunity."
Jackie was never one to pass up an opportunity, whether it was to encourage a young rookie like Oisk or to knock an opposing player's teeth out in a furious slide as repayment for a potentially career-ending spiking. He was a warrior who did not suffer fools gladly: One time, he sent an inebriated black fan packing by screaming at him, "I bet your front yard looks worse than you do! Go home, and CLEAN IT UP!"
Not always popular, Jackie nevertheless was respected throughout baseball for his fortitude and his innate abilities. These were lessons that were put to good use by Carl Erskine when, after his playing days, he fathered Jimmy, his son with Down Syndrome. Having a Special Needs child introduced Erskine first hand to the kind of narrowmindedness, prejudice, foolish preconceptions, and bigotry suffered by Jackie on a moment-by-moment basis. But, having learned from Jackie, he worked with Jimmy to give his son the most complete life he could have, and he battled to break down the iron walls of ignorance built by those that would happily have otherwise consigned his son to an early death as a "Mongoloid Idiot" shut away in some institution.
Moving, profound, and motivating, WHAT I LEARNED FROM JACKIE ROBINSON is truly an essential read.
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