Description:
Third report in Marcus Jones' three-part series on the life of Jackie Robinson in honor of the fortieth anniversary of Robinson's entry into major league baseball. Jones reports on the lack of African American managers and coaches in major league baseball. Jones notes that Robinson spoke out against discrimination in baseball during the last years of his life. Jones adds that Robinson never received an offer to manage a major league baseball team. Jones' report includes footage of Al Campanis (former Vice-President, Brooklyn Dodgers) and Lee MacPhail (General Manager, New York Yankees) making discriminatory comments about the abilities of African Americans to manage professional sports teams. Jones reports that Frank Robinson (bench coach, Baltimore Orioles) became the first African American manager in professional baseball. Jones adds that many current African American players have expressed interest in management positions. Jones interviews Frank Robinson. Jones also interviews Tommy Harper (former Boston Red Sox coach) about his experiences with the Boston Red Sox. Jones notes that Harper was fired for speaking out against the team's discriminatory practices. Jones notes that affirmative action plans are under review for major league baseball. Jones' report includes footage of Rachel Robinson (wife of Jackie Robinson), Clem Labine (former Brooklyn Dodger), Elrod Hendricks (Baltimore Orioles), Larry Whiteside (Boston Globe sportswriter), Billy Williams (Chicago Cubs), Howard Cosell (sportscaster) and Ambassador Franklin Williams (friend of Jackie Robinson) speaking about Jackie Robinson and African Americans in baseball. Jones' report includes footage of Jackie Robinson as well as footage and photographs of current baseball players and officials. Tape 3 of 3
1:00:03: Visual: Black and white shot of the exterior of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Text on screen reads, "Jackie Robinson's American Dream." Black and white shots of fans at the stadium. Footage of Clem Labine (former Brooklyn Dodger) saying that the heart and soul of Brooklyn were destroyed when the Brooklyn Dodgers left town. Black and white shot of Jackie Robinson playing baseball for the Dodgers. Marcus Jones stands in front of Ebbets Field Apartment Complex in Brooklyn. Jones reports that opportunities for minorities are still lacking in one area. V: Footage of Al Campanis (former Dodgers' Vice President) on Nightline. Campanis says that African Americans do not have what it takes to manage a baseball team. Campanis says that there are not many African American quarterbacks or pitchers. Black and white shots of Robinson in a baseball uniform; of a group of Brooklyn Dodgers players. Footage of Campanis speaking to the media. Jones reports that Campanis is a former teammate of Robinson; that Campanis's remarks show that African Americans still face barriers in major league baseball. V: Shots of a major league baseball game. Footage of Robinson addressing a crowd. Footage of Clem Labine (former Brooklyn Dodger) saying that Robinson looked forward to the day when there would be African American managers in major league baseball. Shot of Robinson throwing out a ball at a major league baseball game. Jones reports that Robinson spoke out against discrimination in baseball management during the last year's of his life. Jones notes that Lee MacPhail (General Manager, New York Yankees) claimed in 1969 that African Americans were not prepared to be managers; that Robinson publicly rebutted MacPhail's claims. Jones reports that Robinson never received an offer to manage a major league baseball team. V: Footage of MacPhail at a press conference. Black and white shot of Robinson standing with three white baseball players. Footage of Rachel Robinson (Jackie Robinson's wife) saying that Robinson was disappointed that he never had the opportunity to manage a baseball team. Shots of Robinson's funeral. Shots of Frank Robinson (bench coach, Baltimore Orioles) at a baseball game. Jones notes that Frank Robinson became the first African American manager of a baseball team in 1972. V: Footage of Frank Robinson being interviewed by Jones. Frank Robinson says that he wishes Jackie Robinson could have lived to see him appointed as a manager. Jones reports that Larry Doby and Maury Wills were the only two other African Americans have been field managers in professional baseball. V: Shots of Doby and Wills; of a white Chicago player. Jones notes that Don Baylor (Boston Red Sox), Reggie Jackson (Oakland Athletics) and Elrod Hendricks have expressed interest in becoming managers. V: Shots of Baylor, Jackson and Hendricks; of a white manager arguing with an umpire. Footage of Elrod Hendricks (catching coach for the Baltimore Orioles) saying that he would like to be a manager if the right opportunity presented itself. Footage of Tommy Harper (former Boston Red Sox coach) saying that African Americans want an equal opportunity to compete for jobs. Shots of Harper at a non-professional baseball field. Jones reports that Harper had hopes of moving up in the ranks of the Red Sox organization; that Harper was fired in 1975 for protesting against the team's discriminatory practices. V: Shot of a newspaper headline reading, "Harper still shut out because he spoke out." Footage of Harper saying that minorities have been shut out of management positions all over baseball; that the minority officials in baseball right now have no authority. Footage of Larry Whiteside (Boston Globe sportswriter) talking about the lack of opportunities for African Americans in baseball. Jones reports that there is pressure on team owners to hire more minorities. V: Shots of a ceremony honoring Robinson at a Major League ballpark; of a newspaper headline reading, "No shortage of black candidates." ESPN footage of Billy Williams (Chicago Cubs batting coach) at a Hall of Fame Ceremony. Williams says that team owners must look beyond skin color in hiring management. Shots of an African American man talking to the press; of white team owners; of Peter Ueberroth (Baseball Commissioner). Jones says that affirmative action plans are under review for major league baseball. V: Footage of Frank Robinson saying that he hopes that African Americans will soon have the same opportunities as whites to become managers. Black and white footage of Jackie Robinson playing baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers; of fans cheering for Robinson. Jones notes that Jackie Robinson's courage inspired the nation. V: Footage of Howard Cosell (sportscaster) saying that Jackie Robinson is an important figure in American history, not just sports history. Footage of Rachel Robinson (Jackie Robinson's wife) saying that she had no idea that his legacy would become as important as it is. Black and white shots of Jackie and Rachel Robinson; of Jackie Robinson campaigning for civil rights. Footage of Labine saying that Robinson will be remembered for what he did for the African American race. Black and white shots of Robinson with Chock full o'Nuts company employees; of Robinson receiving an award. Footage of Ambassador Franklin Williams (Robinson's friend) saying that a lesser man would not have succeeded like Robinson did. Black and white shots of Rachel and Jackie Robinson with their child; of Robinson with a friend.
Date Created:
08/06/1987
