What would baseball be like if Jackie Robinson would have failed?

Question

All of us know that Jackie Robinson was very successful when he entered MLB in 1947. But I would like to know a few things:

1.) Do you feel Jackie Robinson HAD to succeed?
2.) If Jackie Robinson would have failed how long would it have been for another black athlete to be given a chance? (Now I know there was a guy who played for the Indians only a few months after Robinson was given his shot...last name Doby I believe. But he wasn't really all that successful)
3.) What would the world of baseball be like now if Jackie Robinson would have not been all that great?

Answer 1

Branch Rickey specifically chose Jackie Robinson because he knew that with his baseball and life skills, Robinson would be successful.

Larry Doby would not have had a chance without Robinson's success. The same is true of every other black player who followed that season and in the next few seasons.

Satchel Paige may well have been as good a choice as was Robinson, but a starting pitcher would not have had the same impact as a position player, simply because he's not out there every day. And Josh GIbson died before he could see the end of the institutionalized stupidity that kep him out of MLB.

But without Rickey and Robinson, baseball today would have few if any black players, and even more importantly, no Latino and no Asian players. Which, BTW, is the reason that Mariano Rivera has chosen to keep wearing his grandfathered #42 - in recognition and in honour of Robinson's influence in opening MLB to players from around the world.

Answer 2

There are a few things you fail to consider. Jackie Robinson (Dodgers 1947), Larry Doby (Cleveland 1947), Hank Thompson and Willard Brown (St. Louis Browns 1947). These are the first four Black players in modern baseball.
Had Jackie not succeeded his first year, or even his second, I doubt very seriously if Branch Rickey would have released him.
Sure, Robinson had to succeed, but it would not have been the end for the Black players. There were several in the Majors the same time Robinson was. Some made it big, some average and some not so good. But to say Black players were totally dependent on Robinson is like saying the other Black players didn't count. That isn't fair to them.

Answer 3

Jackie Robinson did have to succeed. That's why they waited until they found just the right player before they tried it. Jackie wasn't the best black player at the time, he was just the best suited to succeed and to be able to take the inevitable abuse. Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson were both better players, but they were both a little older and didn't have the same attitude as Jackie Robinson.

But, isn't it amazing that baseball paved the way for equality in our country? You have to remember that this happened 20 years before the height of the Civil Rights movement. Maybe the bigger question should be, "What would the United States be like if Jackie Robinson had failed?" The sad thing is that there are hardly any African American players in baseball anymore.

Answer 4

Babe Ruth was the best player to play the game at the time he played. He still ranks highly and some people call him the best, but this is always debatable. His number is retired by the Yankees and he has a statue, so I don't think he deserves more than that. Of course Jackie Robinson wasn't the best player ever. His number represents to America the struggle of a whole class of people to get recognition in sports and even in other fields. That's why the USA has thing's like Martin Luther King Day, George Washington's Birthday, and Jackie Robinson Day. Those things have a deeper meaning, than being the best baseball player.

Answer 5

well, there would have been a tremendous delay of black athletes to be given a chance, and yes, i feel that Jackie Robinson HAD to succeed because he had to cherish his lucky shot at the major leagues and if he was a flop, black athletes wouldn't be given that much consideration. By the way.
Larry Doby was actually very successful, a .283 career hitter with 253 home runs, and 970 rbi's. Also, he led the league in home runs twice. He also hit at least 20 home runs from 1949-56. That is called successful, and also he was the second African-American major league manager.

Answer 6

Larry Doby was the first black player in the American League. As for that wasn't very successful comment, Ahem, He is in the Both the ***** League and MLB baseball hall of Fame. Played for 13 years in MLB at an age when he was on the way down past his prime and still put up hall of fame type numbers.

Answer 7

Had he failed in either being a gentleman on and off the field and holding back from fighting black would probably not have been allowed into the league for awhile. You have to remember that all the teams (except St. Louis) were in the North and thou Racism was strong in the south it was worse in the north. City like Philadelphia and Boston despised Blacks at the time. I believe that even if he had been successful and the Economy hadn’t been as good as it was then black again would have been pushed out of baseball.

Answer 8

it would stink