Jackie Robinson's Speech - October 15, 1972

In his final public appearance, Jackie Robinson spoke of his hopes for the future of baseball ahead of the second game of the 1972 World Series between the A's and Reds. He knew then, as we know now, that there is still work to be done. /
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[@timrobinson7373]

10 days after this speech Jackie would die and the kids at school would tease me and say things like "Am so sorry to hear that your Cousin Jackie died today." Because my last name is Robinson they all made jokes about it. My mother saw I was upset when I came home I was 10 at the time and did not know baseball history or Jackie Robinson or any of that stuff yet. My mother would tell me about Jackie the Dodgers and all that stuff later my father took me to the library to study up on the history of the game and i been in love with baseball and its history ever since Thank you Jackie RIP you have another legend Hank Aaron who can play with you now in the outfield in your Field of Dreams now

[@niajoy8]

Very sweet story. Yes Rest In Peace.. Jackie and Hank 🙏🏾

[@wonglee2424]

This video should have millions of views this is a treasure and historic moment in baseball history

[@openmindedillustrations7106]

Sadly you can't find videos like this easily. It takes specific "keywords" I've been having a hard time lol

[@hortensebediam1032]

Chadwick Boseman Died Of 4 Years Of Colon Cancer On Jackie Robinson Day Celebration and 57th Anniversary Of March Of Washington Day Celebration On Friday, August 28th 2020 at the age of 43 Years Old Rest in Peace and Rest in Paradise To Chadwick Boseman and Jackie Robinson.

[@kenmh2527]

Rest in paradise Jackie Robinson and Chadwick Boseman

[@RatIceCream]

He passed away less than 2 weeks after this. RIP Jackie Robinson, legend.

[@privatepenguin3137]

Happy 100th Birthday to Rachel Robinson. 100 years old today and still going strong!

[@hortensebediam1032]

Jackie Robinson Died Of Heart Attack Just 9 Days Later Rest in Peace and Rest in Paradise To Jackie Robinson We Will Miss You So Much Stay in Heaven Today With Your Family and We Will Never Be Forgotten and Long Live The King.

[@trvst_dreams9859]

Only king is Jesus

[@killercloid5333]

@@trvst_dreams9859 he doesnt mean a littral king if you knew that hes saying hes a good man ok

[@hortensebediam1032]

RIP Jackie Robinson 1919 - 1972

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

That he would be gone just a week later...that he was for all intents and purposes BLIND from diabetes...that he was just 53 years old...like Red Barber said on Ken Burns' Baseball...he died from the load he carried. I pride myself as a Black man being keenly aware of the history of which I get to live. Jackie Robinson is my hero of heroes. The man started the Civil Rights Movement, not Dr. King. He began raising the consciousness of our humanity with his play, with his PRESENCE...a handsome, dignified, exceptional baseball player and ultimate Black man. I could write 1000 superlatives and it would never be enough. Ever. I can merely stand on the shoulders of his accomplishments and continue to be one of millions who ensures what he did was not done in vain. Thank you Jackie. May you eternally rest in peace.

[@ShawnPrince]

Everybody knows of this man, but how often have we heard him speak? He had nothing to say but THANK YOU to everyone except himself. Sign of the times he grew up in, shot out Snoop Dogg.

[@orbison]

The famous moment everyone knows about is at 7:39. You're welcome. To leave this earth letting everyone know that there is still much to be done is the definition of nobility.

[@geoffreybovey3482]

Equally important and amazing but NOT talked about: 8:26. Watch Rachel as the applause breaks out for the ending of the anthem. Bravo, Rachel. You are an amazing woman and a giant in your own right. I wish I could be as brave as you.

[@annefisher3097]

God Bless Jackie ❤️

[@kardaine29]

He heard all he needed to hear and achieved all he needed to achieve. I am beyond happy he got to experience this before he passed and went on to the great unknown. A humble man with both a great heart and skill.

[@coreylevine8095]

In 2020 the Dodgers won the World series under Dave Roberts with part owner magic Johnson

[@Chases1217]

I’m a rays fan don’t mention it. 😊

[@razzorxx99]

Jackie Robinson = Class Act.

[@romelovesdan]

Thank you for this...I had always tried to piece this special moment together using various sources. It was Jackie's goodbye message to the game, the fans, and the youth of the day. I hope we may see some more Swinging A's classics posted this off season.

[@FastGunner2040]

It's like his story was complete, he died right after this

[@sportsmedia25]

Baseball didn't get it's first African-American manager until 1975 when Frank Robinson skippered the Indians. Frank later became the first Black manager in the National League with the Giants in 1981

[@geoffreybovey3482]

This video is astounding. What a hero and great man he was and is. Jack Robinson was the greatest. (Jack is who he was to his wife ) However, I have a challenge for everybody who loves this video. Would you like to love it and be moved by it even more? I challenge everyone to find a book called “Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait“, written by his own wife Rachel Robinson and published in 1996. It’s an amazing book, filled with amazing gems. But specifically, pay close attention to pages 193 all the way to page 225. Make sure you pay special attention to the caption Rachel wrote regarding a photograph on page 215, specifically the very last sentence. Have a box of Kleenex nearby. And then, come back here and re-watch this clip. This video is wonderful, hearing his voice say those words, fantastic, watching him stand with so much dignity, and his wonderful wife so supportive and seemingly happy. Children, the same. But…this video is also mind numbingly heartbreaking. On a profound level that none of us can understand unless you’ve lost a child, and then have to endure watching your own husband slowly but surely head to death and knowing it before anybody else does. I can’t imagine. Wait….Maybe some of us can a little bit? Ever since my wife was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, I think I understand just a little bit more than I’d like, no thank you very much (she survives today and has been cancer free for the last year, but I’m no fool as to how this works). I was born and raised in Montreal. When my father first told me as a 12 year old in 1980-ish while watching the late great Expos that he watched him play in ‘46 for the Royals before the rest of the world got to know him a year later as a Dodger, I was profoundly and instantaneously catapulted from a casual interest into a passionate love of baseball. I don’t play it, but I’m a lifelong fan because of that. And this guy is a hero to me because he helped me to appreciate my own father more. Jackie Robinson stands larger than life. No disagreement there from anyone I’m sure. But to see a giant of a man and his wife, and his children, quietly suffer so much in this video, is absolutely paralyzing. People, if you love Jackie Robinson, I compel you to get that book. I was lucky enough to find it for $5 in a thrift store just a week ago as of this writing. I think it’s the most important book ever written about him. Now I understand why Jesse Jackson said that Jack Robinson was a co-partner with God.

[@tappyoklahoma]

next level... totally magnanimous human being

[@timmclain5576]

How gracious he was

[@jim72068]

This was a sad period of time for the Robinson family. Jackie's oldest son Jackie Jr. had followed in father's footsteps and joined the Army (Jackie was a WW2 Army vet) where he served in Vietnam and earned a Purple Heart. But he returned with a drug addiction that he dealt with for years before getting clean, becoming a counselor, and serving as VP of a drug rehab center. Just about a year before this speech he was killed in a car crash, which must have broke Jackie and Rachel's hearts. Then just 10 days after this speech Jackie himself died suddenly.

[@frankyang5681]

he changed the world

[@geoffreybovey3482]

I need to add to someone else’s comment that’s similar to mine. Why in heavens name isn’t this video topping over a million in views?

[@justinmay3451]

What a great video! Jackie did so much for baseball and society as a whole in his way too short of a life. Sadly, he passed away just 9 days later.

[@Tom-TV-vl4to]

10 days later not 9

[@justinmay3451]

@@Tom-TV-vl4to this was on October 15th and he died on the 24th.

[@Tom-TV-vl4to]

@@justinmay3451 oh thanks for telling me also i wish he lived longer :(

[@jpete3027666]

Jackie had a lot of health problems for years before this and died 2 weeks later. So sad. RIP Jackie, you left the world too soon.

[@sockfreak2003]

I was born 31 years later on that day

[@TheAhmadnt9]

I was 31 days old on this day

[@coreylevine8095]

I were 1 year and 7 months old then

[@coreylevine8095]

February 24 1971

[@themadmanescaped1]

Imagine how Jack would've reacted learning that 36 years later a black man would've been elected president.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

I ate breakfast at Choc Full O' Nuts every morning when I went to Rhodes. Good, cheap meal at 54th and Madison. Also ate lunch there regularly.

[@justinmay3451]

I love it towards the end when Reds 2nd baseman Joe Morgan came up to Jackie and thanked him for all he had done. Where would Joe and the other African American ballplayers be without Jackie Robinson?

[@takerun_times]

Legend

[@williamdunphy352]

Paul Sommerkamp is the Public Address Announcer.

[@patrickmosley8634]

Big gang ok luv

[@AliFrazier100]

Nice

[@dsvinalay]

I'm learning about Jackie robinson

[@kevinmiller6380]

Nine days later Jackie was gone.

[@AliFrazier100]

2020 World Series Oakland Athletics

[@JarkaShadow17]

Cry lmao

[@garse70]

Love how the MLB organization gives a bunch of white guys credit for “allowing” JACKIE to play. Much props to Jackie for being a gentleman throughout. I would’ve not been so gracious. GO DODGERS!

[@thehiphopprophet]

He died 8 days after this speech

[@WilTonay]

12

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

​@@WilTonay9 days to be precise. Sad that Jackie's former teammate, Gil Hodges, was not there as he had died suddenly of a heart attack April 2, 1972 at the age of 47, two days before his 48th birthday.

[@yu4ia]

Damn fuck politics

[@kevinmiller6380]

Nine days later Jackie was gone.