Leo was a good guy. He genuinely didn't give a shit about race. If you could play baseball, you had his respect. That's all that mattered to him as a manager.
different with Dixie and Digby was racist to Jackie. only Leo, Coach Rickey, Pee Wee Reese, Ralph Branca and dodgers rest of squad has support to jackie
A black guy from where Leo grew up was the one who encouraged Leo to pursue the Major League. A black coworker in West Springfield, Massachusetts said Leo was a cool guy. I grew up there.
He was also perfect for this kind of situation. Leo The Lip didn’t take shit from anybody and had a notoriously very aggressive, in your face alpha personality. He was the absolute last leader you would want to even think about creating a mutiny against.
When he drops his voice and goes “and think about this when your heads hit the pillows tonight…” I get goosebumps and shivers with everything that comes after
I love how this movie portrayed Ralph Branca, one of the few dodgers players who accepted Jackie Robinson from the get go. A true friend and colleague.
The movie portrays Branca as a really nice guy to Robinson, but I think it partly due to the fact he was one of the few players from the 1947 season who was still alive when this movie was made and helped with the making of it. They made other, long dead guys, (like Fritz Ostermueller who was proven not to be a racist) look like jerks.
@@weasel2173it’s actually true. Branca made it a point to befriend Jackie from day one. He and Robinson’s widow remained friends until his death. He even has a prominent place in the Jackie Robinson Museum
eddiec818: Very true. Besides Ralph Branca, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges accepted and befriended Jackie Robinson. In fact, it's my understanding that during Spring Training, Joan Hodges went grocery shopping for Rachel Robinson since Mrs. Robinson couldn't shop because of segregation. I feel that "42" was well done and is a very good movie, but I don't understand why Gil Hodges wasn't featured in the film. Gil Hodges was with the Dodgers in '47. Maybe someone knows the answer to this?
@@rickarnold7778 The interactions between the Hodges and the Robinsons all took place post-1947. Remember that Hodges had only just gotten back to baseball in 1947 after serving in WWII, and was not called up until late May. He played in 28 games that year, and had one AB in the WS. Hodges' rookie season was technically 1948 - a year after the movie takes place. The movie ends with them clinching the pennant in 1947. Hodgers really was not a factor on the team that year, and as a young player trying to get into the majors, he was not in a position to take a stance on supporting Robinson. There is no evidence of Joan going shopping for Mrs. Robinson during spring training, as Robinson was the only player allowed to bring his wife down in 1947. There is a story of the Simon family (Simon & Shuster fame, parents of Carly Simon) helping the Robinsons purchase a home in Connecticut where agents were not receptive to a Black family buying property by standing in as the buyers. Some of the stories involving those who eventually became supportive of Jackie Robinson have been conflated to where the actions of one are incorrectly attributed to another.
Gil was a rookie bench player in ‘47 for the Dodgers and didn’t even hit .200. He also was a first baseman, which was Jackie’s position that year. So it may have been a little awkward to have a rookie being accepting of Jackie when it was the veterans who didn’t want to play on the same team with him. The next year, the Dodgers traded Stanky to the Braves, which opened up second for Jackie and first base for Gil.
“And think about this when your heads hit the pillow tonight, he’s only the first boys. Only the first.” Such a great line and delivered perfectly. And they did run them out of the ball park. He called it!
Tibbity idk about that I’m black and I’ve never had a racism incident nor have I been wronged by any police officer. I think we just can’t believe it’s happening at all so we stomp down on it as hard as we can but it’s still rare to me to see it
I also love the scene right before this where Ricky calls Leo telling him to go chew the team's asses over the petition. You can see Leo start to get worked up and ready to chew some ass. Awesome. Just awesome.
Leo Durocher was a lot of things. But above all he HATED losing. If you had told him a team of African American ball players with communist leanings (remember the setting of late 1940s America where that would have scared a lot of people) could win him the World Series. He’d have accepted that job
Christopher Meloni NAILS THIS THING. So, SO good. Goosebumps every time. And no small amount of vindicated amusement. One of my favorite moments in cinema over the past decade.
One of the must powerful scenes in the entire movie.. the sense of fear and reality sets in for the major league players. ".. because he's COMIN!!".. The other powerful scene was when jackie retreated to the dugout walkway and broke the bat in anger and frustration.. Great film..
Its a movie so I'm not sure how much of this speech was for dramatic effect but the Civil Rights Movement was also successful because some good white men and women stood up to their own kind for what is right. Great speech.
The original quote is “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fucking zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What’s more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are traded.”
1:14 *"LIKE IT, LUMP IT, MAKE YOUR MINDS UP TO IT BECAUSE HE'S **_COMING!"_* Damn, Christopher Meloni did Leo Durocher justice; this scene & especially that delivery always gives me chills👍
Christopher Meloni always gets the best roles. Either it's in movies like this one or in my favorite show, Law and Order: SVU, the man knows exactly what to do and what to say to get others around him talking. #42movie #EndRacism
He walked in the kitchen, IN HIS ROBE, like a pissed off step daddy holding a leather belt. "It has come to my attention that you missed curfew again.'
Got them up in the middle of the night, in a dark kitchen, making a lot of racket noise 😂😂😂 this scene is fucking gold. Stabler is so underrated as an actor.
In the spring of 1947, he let it be known that he would not tolerate the dissent of those players on the team who opposed Jackie Robinson's joining the club, saying: I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded.
@@joewhitehead3 Aah right. He called everyone up after hearing the phone call from Branch Rickey. But still, Pee Wee Reese mustve been pissed telling everyone in his own head "i woke up for this bs?" He just wont say it because he was not a rude person but in his mind, im very sure he was pissed.
The real Leo Durocher was exactly like this. A legitimate "Fu** Your Feelings" tough guy who didn't give a damn what a person's race, religion, etc was. If you could play ball, he was in your corner. Umpires and a lot of other people hated him because Leo didn't hold back hence his nickname "The Lip". That's why Branch Rickey wanted him to be with Jackie. Leo probably would have punched the Phillies Manager Ben Chapman in the mouth.
I like how Detective Eliot Stabler puts these Brooklyn Dodgers players' in their places and giving them a good shake and bake wake up call on Jackie Robinson........ Strong and Powerful Scene! Oh yeah! He tore their asses up really quick!🥺⚾ 🇺🇸🎆
My favorite part was when he said that more were coming, scratching and diving, and WANT to play. It’s the insinuation that the players don’t feel any drive or competitive nature because they don’t have anyone who wants their spots. They don’t understand that they can be replaced. White players can go literally anywhere to play, it didn’t matter cause they would get to play, so they didn’t feel the need to fight for their spots. People of color would jump at the opportunity to fight tooth and nail to get those spots and rightfully so. They would earn their stay and there was nothing the content white players could do when they’re being kicked off the team and there’s no spots anywhere else. They needed to wake up and realize that if they wanted to play, they would shove it and suck it up, because their time on the team doesn’t equate to helpfulness and god forbid talent. There’s always someone who is better, and more deserving. If you want your spot you fight to keep it.
Leo Durocher's speech as depicted in the film is a somewhat "sanitized." In fact, he actually said "I don't care if he's yellow, black or striped like a (f--in') zebra ..." It's true that Leo often came off as nasty and abrasive on the field and clubhouse, but in things that really matter (like race), he was spot on and a good guy (IMO).
Imagine your on the team and you have no issue with Robinson coming to the Dodgers and the skip wakes you up outta sleep cause of these other assholes lol
@@joewhitehead3 I mean the MLB back in the day before Jackie Robinson it was a white mans sport but he was broke the barrier and he was hated for it so much even before the season started they tried to bring him down on his team and with the rest of the league and he still became one of the best baseball players in the league
@@joewhitehead3 yea thats pretty much it. Segregation started gaining popularity especially in the early 1900s which was when MLB was gaining popularity. Black players played in the Negro Leagues which was its own thing but sometimes the black players would play against the white players in exhibitions. Not on the same team though. Other sports had been integrated earlier or integrated in certain parts of the country but that wasn't pro team sports. Baseball was the biggest and most popular sport of all and by alot and had a big cultural impact at the time. Because of this integrating baseball was seen as very important and influential on the larger society. When pro football or basketball integrated they were minor sports at the time.
“he’s only the first...” gives me chills every time
Y???
Galactic_ClashX cuz it’s true
Young Cactus Jack no I mean why chills I mean does he not like black people
Galactic_ClashX I don’t think that’s what he meant it could just be a powerful quote to him
@@galactic_clashx4056 no Dummy
“Screw your hardware store and if you don’t like it, screw you!” I love that.
Pun intended? (Screw your hardware store. Screws-something they sell at Hardware stores)
Leo was a good guy. He genuinely didn't give a shit about race. If you could play baseball, you had his respect. That's all that mattered to him as a manager.
different with Dixie and Digby was racist to Jackie. only Leo, Coach Rickey, Pee Wee Reese, Ralph Branca and dodgers rest of squad has support to jackie
A black guy from where Leo grew up was the one who encouraged Leo to pursue the Major League.
A black coworker in West Springfield, Massachusetts said Leo was a cool guy.
I grew up there.
@@USMC-cv5sd That's great information! I never knew that about Leo Durocher.
@@rickarnold7778
Yep
He was also perfect for this kind of situation. Leo The Lip didn’t take shit from anybody and had a notoriously very aggressive, in your face alpha personality. He was the absolute last leader you would want to even think about creating a mutiny against.
"Unless you start paying attention to your work, they're gonna run you right out of the ballpark." My God this scene is gold
I dont care if hes yellow or black or HAS STRIPES LIKE A ZEBRA love that sentence
In real life he actually had said "stripes like a FUCKIN zebra" ;)
Ik
Same here doc
A real man
“He’s only the first...” that alone shut ‘em up real quick. They didn’t call him Leo the Lip for nothing.
He was right about that
Oh yeah!!!
When he drops his voice and goes “and think about this when your heads hit the pillows tonight…” I get goosebumps and shivers with everything that comes after
Because the most thought provoking and almost threatening information you could ever receive is by someone talking as calm as possible.
I love how this movie portrayed Ralph Branca, one of the few dodgers players who accepted Jackie Robinson from the get go. A true friend and colleague.
The movie portrays Branca as a really nice guy to Robinson, but I think it partly due to the fact he was one of the few players from the 1947 season who was still alive when this movie was made and helped with the making of it. They made other, long dead guys, (like Fritz Ostermueller who was proven not to be a racist) look like jerks.
@@weasel2173it’s actually true. Branca made it a point to befriend Jackie from day one. He and Robinson’s widow remained friends until his death. He even has a prominent place in the Jackie Robinson Museum
eddiec818: Very true. Besides Ralph Branca, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges accepted and befriended Jackie Robinson. In fact, it's my understanding that during Spring Training, Joan Hodges went grocery shopping for Rachel Robinson since Mrs. Robinson couldn't shop because of segregation. I feel that "42" was well done and is a very good movie, but I don't understand why Gil Hodges wasn't featured in the film. Gil Hodges was with the Dodgers in '47. Maybe someone knows the answer to this?
@@rickarnold7778 The interactions between the Hodges and the Robinsons all took place post-1947. Remember that Hodges had only just gotten back to baseball in 1947 after serving in WWII, and was not called up until late May. He played in 28 games that year, and had one AB in the WS. Hodges' rookie season was technically 1948 - a year after the movie takes place. The movie ends with them clinching the pennant in 1947. Hodgers really was not a factor on the team that year, and as a young player trying to get into the majors, he was not in a position to take a stance on supporting Robinson. There is no evidence of Joan going shopping for Mrs. Robinson during spring training, as Robinson was the only player allowed to bring his wife down in 1947. There is a story of the Simon family (Simon & Shuster fame, parents of Carly Simon) helping the Robinsons purchase a home in Connecticut where agents were not receptive to a Black family buying property by standing in as the buyers. Some of the stories involving those who eventually became supportive of Jackie Robinson have been conflated to where the actions of one are incorrectly attributed to another.
Gil was a rookie bench player in ‘47 for the Dodgers and didn’t even hit .200. He also was a first baseman, which was Jackie’s position that year. So it may have been a little awkward to have a rookie being accepting of Jackie when it was the veterans who didn’t want to play on the same team with him. The next year, the Dodgers traded Stanky to the Braves, which opened up second for Jackie and first base for Gil.
“And think about this when your heads hit the pillow tonight, he’s only the first boys. Only the first.”
Such a great line and delivered perfectly. And they did run them out of the ball park. He called it!
It's hard to believe life was like this
Beast of Bmore have you ever met people before?
You white?
Was? A lot of America is still like this lol
Still is
Tibbity idk about that I’m black and I’ve never had a racism incident nor have I been wronged by any police officer. I think we just can’t believe it’s happening at all so we stomp down on it as hard as we can but it’s still rare to me to see it
“Screw your hardware store Dix! And if you don’t like it, screw you” The way he delivered that line
RIP Chadwick, he was such a legend
Pee wee Reese was the only player that didn't sign the petition. That was smart.
And Ralph Branca.
@@randomguy6117 yeah but they didn't show it
And eddie stanky
The whole entire time there he must of been thinking "God damn it I woke up to hear shit I didn't even care about"
@@nickstoken3367 Eddie Stanky said he couldn't sign because he was indisposed.
I also love the scene right before this where Ricky calls Leo telling him to go chew the team's asses over the petition. You can see Leo start to get worked up and ready to chew some ass. Awesome. Just awesome.
Durocher was a fighter...he never backed down from a good Donnybrook
Leo Durocher was a lot of things. But above all he HATED losing. If you had told him a team of African American ball players with communist leanings (remember the setting of late 1940s America where that would have scared a lot of people) could win him the World Series. He’d have accepted that job
What's interesting is that later in life, some people called Leo a bigot. B.S.
This, not Gehrig's speech, is the greatest speech in baseball.
Bible says a thing or 2 about adultery lmao 🤣
He's only the first - and every head drops in realization. They're coming for your jobs, boys, and they want it more than you.
Who’s here after Chadwick Bosemans Death (Great Actor and an inspiration to us all)
I know he's not in this scene. But I do like this movie of his, and love this scene.
I’m watching this movie for the first time!! Should of done it earlier
Googling Christopher Meloni brought me here
Christopher Meloni is so underrated.
Used to watch on law and order SVU
yeah
@@jesseavila6014 yeah
He became Loo Durocher and did him justice in this movie; this scene & his dialogue always give me chills👍
Speeches like that were needed everywhere since that time on forward
"They're gonna run you right outta the ballpark!" love that line
derocha basically just gave them the future blueprints
Christopher Meloni NAILS THIS THING. So, SO good. Goosebumps every time. And no small amount of vindicated amusement. One of my favorite moments in cinema over the past decade.
You mean Christopher melon
@@jamesmorant1406 ha! Thank you! Edited for accuracy! I swear they're twins!
@@setaside2 they look alike
I love the part where he comes in hitting the pans and pots😂💀
Everyone's mom when they're trying to sleep in on weekends.
Such an excellent choice for the role. You can see what makes him a presence, how he makes Elliot Stabler so beloved, and passionate.
The actor is Christopher Meloni
"It ain't fair to force him on us like this"
Lmao I cried from laughter the first time I heard this! Its crazy how this was the norm.
one of the best scenes of the movie ,,,Leo laying down the law
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re black, if you’re yellow, if you get me wins, I want you.”
This guy gets it.
One of the must powerful scenes in the entire movie.. the sense of fear and reality sets in for the major league players. ".. because he's COMIN!!"..
The other powerful scene was when jackie retreated to the dugout walkway and broke the bat in anger and frustration..
Great film..
Anton is coming and we are going to serve him a big ego
So that’s what Stabler did after SVU
Tyler Tilwick his hairline isn’t receding that far i think they cut it that way for the movie. Though why I’m not sure
Nah, this was clearly what Nick Sax decided to do.
Casey Jones can play baseball. Raphael found that out.
Its a movie so I'm not sure how much of this speech was for dramatic effect but the Civil Rights Movement was also successful because some good white men and women stood up to their own kind for what is right. Great speech.
The original quote is “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fucking zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What’s more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are traded.”
Indeed, the man like coach Durocher here, Mr. Hickey and Pee Wee Reese
The real Leo Durocher was like this. He didn't care what you thought. He was about winning ball games
Honestly, this is my favorite scene from the entire movie. I think it’s completely underrated.
I feel like the lighting in this scene helps somehow, makes him look more imposing. Must be the light reflecting off that gloriously bald a$$ head 🤣
I couldn’t stop staring at his head😂
I love the way he handled this
He was like a pissed off dad who had to get up in the middle of the night because his young kids were misbehaving
_Like it; lump it, make your minds up to it, because he's comin'_
My favourite scene from the movie.
1:14 *"LIKE IT, LUMP IT, MAKE YOUR MINDS UP TO IT BECAUSE HE'S **_COMING!"_* Damn, Christopher Meloni did Leo Durocher justice; this scene & especially that delivery always gives me chills👍
I loved Chris Meloni in this role!
"Screw your hardware store, Dix and if you don't like it then scrEw you!"
Pun intended? Because screws are something they sell at hardware stores
Mr Ricky would be happy to make other arrangements for ya.
Love this scene! "You can wipe your asses with it" haha boys just got schooled
Christopher Meloni always gets the best roles. Either it's in movies like this one or in my favorite show, Law and Order: SVU, the man knows exactly what to do and what to say to get others around him talking. #42movie #EndRacism
Thumbs up for Leo Durocher
No dislikes just the way it should be
Yep
Yes
I love this scene. You can either compete or carry your ass home b/c they coming and they got talent.
“unless you fellas paid a little more attention to your work, THEYRE GONNA RUN OUT OF THE BALLPARK” stood on business n put on notice
He walked in the kitchen, IN HIS ROBE, like a pissed off step daddy holding a leather belt. "It has come to my attention that you missed curfew again.'
Chris Meloni was amazing in this film. Such a phenomenal actor!
Just read Leo’s autobiography - love the guy.
Great movie. Great scene. Always a big fan of detective stabler telling people what’s what
Got them up in the middle of the night, in a dark kitchen, making a lot of racket noise 😂😂😂 this scene is fucking gold. Stabler is so underrated as an actor.
Leo had the perfect message 🎤 and He didn’t bite his tongue 👅! Well said Leo!❤Love that speech!
LOL!
GO LEO!!
🤣🤣👏👏
"What you guys can do with your petition and wipe your asses with it" funny line
my favorite part of this movie.
Don't screw with the coach.
He’s only the first and there are more coming !! Powerful 👍
0:20 Derek Phillips!!!! He's one of my favorite actors
Christopher Melony was Fantastic in this movie, always been a fan of his
0:57 since here, i really enjoy that speech!!!
“He’s just the first”
Goosebumps
In the spring of 1947, he let it be known that he would not tolerate the dissent of those players on the team who opposed Jackie Robinson's joining the club, saying:
I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded.
When detective Stabler says something you better listen XD
PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION
some weird reason you're comment and the song made me think of Call of Duty in which Christopher Meloni was in the third black ops game.
@@AndrewBatman82 "you're" = "you are"
Who you callin' a comment?!
This guy showed them 😂
Lol I know I loved it!
Angel Hernandez oh oof
Angel Hernandez WAIT ANGEL HERNANDEZ WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE
Angel Hernandez go and make bad calls somewhere else man
@Angel Hernandez he was badass on there too. Tells an alien "I don't care what you tell him (general zod)"
"You think he knows about the petition?"
"WAKE UP BOY AWAKE WAKE UP" *Smashes things*
"Yup he knows"
Greatest movie of all time, tell me different
Tell em the truth Leo
Pee Wee Reese: I woke up for this b.s.? I didn't even sign the petition. Let me get back to sleep!!!!!
In Durocher’s defense, he didn’t see the petition & didn’t know who signed it
@@joewhitehead3 Aah right. He called everyone up after hearing the phone call from Branch Rickey. But still, Pee Wee Reese mustve been pissed telling everyone in his own head "i woke up for this bs?" He just wont say it because he was not a rude person but in his mind, im very sure he was pissed.
It's amazing how he was standing up for Jackie when no one else would but he ended up getting kicked out due to a scandal which is a real shame
That kinda thing still happens with public figures
My favorite part
The real Leo Durocher was exactly like this. A legitimate "Fu** Your Feelings" tough guy who didn't give a damn what a person's race, religion, etc was. If you could play ball, he was in your corner. Umpires and a lot of other people hated him because Leo didn't hold back hence his nickname "The Lip".
That's why Branch Rickey wanted him to be with Jackie. Leo probably would have punched the Phillies Manager Ben Chapman in the mouth.
This scene gives me chills. Meloni nailed this.
THIS SPEECH WAS POWERFUL!! CHRIS MELONI DESERVES AN AWARD FOR THIS PERFORMANCE!!
Amazing actor awesome
Genuinely underrated scene in the movie. History moves forward!
“He’s only the first”
Lol" or got stripes like a zebra" wheeew
love meloni's character he doesn't care what jackson's race is all he cares about is that he can play
Who came after Jackie? Larry Doby and Satchel Paige who helped my Tribe win their last World Series in 1948!😁
Meloni is a great actor 👍
I like how Detective Eliot Stabler puts these Brooklyn Dodgers players' in their places and giving them a good shake and bake wake up call on Jackie Robinson........ Strong and Powerful Scene!
Oh yeah! He tore their asses up really quick!🥺⚾ 🇺🇸🎆
Lol that is funny I used to watch law and order SVU
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Some guys couldn’t accept it. It was a big change.
I love this movie
Basically the future of the human race in 1:58...nut up or shut up people
Alex Callan someone should say this to a Hockey team maybe more black people will play hockey
My favorite part was when he said that more were coming, scratching and diving, and WANT to play. It’s the insinuation that the players don’t feel any drive or competitive nature because they don’t have anyone who wants their spots. They don’t understand that they can be replaced. White players can go literally anywhere to play, it didn’t matter cause they would get to play, so they didn’t feel the need to fight for their spots.
People of color would jump at the opportunity to fight tooth and nail to get those spots and rightfully so. They would earn their stay and there was nothing the content white players could do when they’re being kicked off the team and there’s no spots anywhere else.
They needed to wake up and realize that if they wanted to play, they would shove it and suck it up, because their time on the team doesn’t equate to helpfulness and god forbid talent. There’s always someone who is better, and more deserving. If you want your spot you fight to keep it.
Leo Durocher's speech as depicted in the film is a somewhat "sanitized." In fact, he actually said "I don't care if he's yellow, black or striped like a (f--in') zebra ..." It's true that Leo often came off as nasty and abrasive on the field and clubhouse, but in things that really matter (like race), he was spot on and a good guy (IMO).
Chris Meloni is such an incredible actor.
In this scene he was in Elliot Stabler' s mood
Love the Scene
Detective Stabler laying down the law
That was Stabler talking at the end!!!!😅😅😅😅
Man I would’ve been the same like the coach here
0:06
ABSOLUTE BEST
"I don't care if he's yellow or black or has stripes like a zebra"😂😅
Who knew detective stabler helped manage the Brooklyn dodgers😂
he died...RIP Boseman
Imagine your on the team and you have no issue with Robinson coming to the Dodgers and the skip wakes you up outta sleep cause of these other assholes lol
We only have one color here...Dodger blue!
the funny thing is that even though he stood up for him, Leo Durocher and Jackie Robinson ended up despising each other lmfaoooo
Why?
@@millennial9835 both guys had big egos and had several personality clashes
Leo durocher is respect Jackie Robinson
Seriously, what was the problem with people of different races playing ball together?
Segregation that's why
Mark Santana That’s it?
@@joewhitehead3 I mean the MLB back in the day before Jackie Robinson it was a white mans sport but he was broke the barrier and he was hated for it so much even before the season started they tried to bring him down on his team and with the rest of the league and he still became one of the best baseball players in the league
@@joewhitehead3 yea thats pretty much it. Segregation started gaining popularity especially in the early 1900s which was when MLB was gaining popularity. Black players played in the Negro Leagues which was its own thing but sometimes the black players would play against the white players in exhibitions. Not on the same team though. Other sports had been integrated earlier or integrated in certain parts of the country but that wasn't pro team sports. Baseball was the biggest and most popular sport of all and by alot and had a big cultural impact at the time. Because of this integrating baseball was seen as very important and influential on the larger society. When pro football or basketball integrated they were minor sports at the time.
America and white people
Give em hell, Detective Stabler!