Another was Rex Barney, a Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who recalled the story nearly 40 years later in Peter Golenbock's excellent oral history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, "Bums. Jackie Robinson Saved By Pee Wee Reese Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. Breaking baseballs color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. It was Stanky, Stuart Miller wrote in the New York Times in 2007, who threatened to fight the Phillies when they treated Robinson so awfully early in the 1947 season. But as the story became repeated over and over as the years went by, it is not surprising at all to see him gravitate toward accepting it -- and placing the event early in the 1947 season, when it would have the greatest significance. Same story different version: One example of friendship remains with me as vividly as the moment I first heard of it as a boy. None of this takes away from Pee Wee Reeses friendship and support of Jackie Robinson, but it certainly does make for an interesting examination of an In 2005, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg helped unveil a monument outside the Brooklyn Cyclones' home field depicting Hall of Famers (and former Brooklyn Dodgers) Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson with Reese's arm around Robinson. ", Robinson replied, "Pee Wee, maybe that's what I appreciated most. By 1938, Reese was the Colonels' regular shortstop and one of the top prospects in the minors, and so impressed Boston Red Sox farm director Billy Evans that he recommended the Red Sox buy the team. (LogOut/ (He did become a starting pitcher soon after in 1947 and was a full-time starter in 1948.). Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. As the story goes, Cincinnati fans were giving Robinson a particularly tough time as the Dodgers took the field in the bottom of the first. On Aug. 14, 1948, Barney started a game in Boston, which is the same year and place where Robinson said in 1952 and 1960 that it happened. The longer you wait for eyewitness testimony, the faultier it becomes. Pee Wee Reese : biography July 23, 1918 August 14, 1999 Reese was a strong supporter and good friend of the first 20th century black Major League Baseball player, Jackie Robinson. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. This was certainly not the celebratory coverage to which we've become accustomed. The incident with the Phillies was downplayed by Robinson's column in the Courier, but they at least did acknowledge that it happened. What we do know is that two different people are on the record as saying they saw the incident occur. Change), You are commenting using your Google account. Smith ghost-wrote a column by Robinson for the Courier and later published a book titled "Jackie Robinson: My Own Story," which told the history of that first season. from an npr broadcast about Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson featuring Pee Wee's son Mark Reese. Pee Wee Reese showing his support for Jackie Robinson was critical in helping Robinson and other African American players successfully integrate baseball. Perhaps the biggest reason for the confusion? Smith and Robinson were good friends, and due to segregation they were also compelled to be roommates and dining companions when the Dodgers were on the road. For almost a decade he and Jackie Robinson formed one of baseball's top double-play combinations. Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, stated. MLB Photos/Getty Images. Committed an error 5:48 PM and already has made a big deal out the! Baseball s signing came seem more likely as the gesture spoke more eloquently than the words this. 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