The Black Bruins

by James W. Johnson

  Robinson was unhappy with the pace: Linge, Jackie Robinson, 25–26.

  The change put an end to the losing streak: Los Angeles Times, March 2, 1940.

  But Price left Robinson off his all-conference team: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 72

  Shav Glick, a reporter: New York Daily News, April 13, 1997.

  About Luisetti, Robinson remarked: Mann, “Say Jack Robinson.”

  Coach Johns became Robinson’s biggest booster: Mann, The Jackie Robinson Story, 59.

  No sooner was basketball season over: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 74.

  Booster Bob Campbell remembered: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 213.

  Robinson told sportswriter Roger Kahn: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 100.

  Despite his errors: Daily Bruin, April 24, 1997.

  Nonetheless, the sports editor: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 60.

  Carl McBain, a hurdler: Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2007.

  Daily Bruin sportswriter Milt Cohen: Daily Bruin, May 15, 1940.

  The summer of 1940: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 39.

  Bradley and his friends joked: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 44.

  His trusted adviser at UCLA: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 41.

  Bradley decided he needed a police job: Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1974.

  Bradley was aware: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 43.

  He was asked: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  The job at the Los Angeles Police Department: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 40.

  Strode’s last year at UCLA: Los Angeles Examiner, December. 29, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 153.

  After the season Strode realized: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 108.

  14. Passed Over by the NFL

  “You know . . . [Washington] would be the greatest sensation: http://www.si.com/vault/2009/10/12/105865272/the-nfls-jackie-robinson, accessed November 16, 2015.

  The local media began stumping: Los Angeles Examiner, November 11, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 135.

  The Los Angeles Times wrote: Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 135.

  The press called the slight laughable: Los Angeles Examiner, December 3, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 137.

  Teammate Woody Strode said: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 96.

  “It’s with a distinct sour taste”: Daily Bruin, December 1, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 90.

  Washington had “put to shame those All-America pickers”: Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1939.

  The Pasadena Star-News joined in: Pasadena Star-News, December 7, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 93.

  Crisis, the NAACP magazine: Wilkins, “Wrong Color,” January 1940, 17.

  Washington also was passed over: United Press article in the Pasadena Post, December 25, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 149.

  His exclusion came: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2544/Washington-Kenny.html, accessed August 22, 2014.

  The mainstream and the black press: California Eagle, December 21, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 150.

  Even the lieutenant governor: Plaindealer [Kansas City KS], January 5, 1940.

  Washington received some consolation: Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1940.

  Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg: Chicago Tribune, August 30, 1940.

  “He played on the same field”: Wiggins and Miller, The Unlevel Playing Field, 200.

  What Bears coach George Halas saw of Washington: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827061c3/printable/forgotten-hero-washington-broke-nfls-color-barrier-in-1946, accessed February 13, 2014.

  The prevailing thought: Chicago Defender, September 7, 1940.

  NBC broadcaster Sam Balter: Smith, Showdown, 39–40,

  “There are ten teams in the league”: Plaindealer [Kansas City KS], December 22, 1939.

  In December 1940: Wiggins and Miller, The Unlevel Playing Field, 200–201.

  Washington took a short venture: Chicago Defender, January 6, 1940.

  Crosby sent Washington to a veteran manager: Chicago Defender, January 6, 1940.

  He signed a contract: http://www.museumca.org/picturethis/pictures/lobby-card-hollywood-film-iwhile-thousands-cheeri, accessed March 14, 2015.

  The sixty-four minute black-and-white film: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/555587/While-ThousandsCheer/full-synopsis.html, accessed March 15, 2015.

  Washington invited the entire freshman team: Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1940.

  In mid-September 1940 Washington played: Chicago Defender, June 21, 1941.

  While Washington was earning his degree: Plaindealer [Kansas City KS], November 29, 1940.

  Washington was “an inspiration”: California Eagle, December 31, 1940; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 98.

  After leaving UCLA Strode landed a job: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 108.

  But Strode was soon out of a job: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 110–11, 117.

  “That’s all the money I needed”: Los Angeles Examiner, December 29, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 153.

  Strode and Washington led the Bears: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 134.

  After graduation Washington looked: Arkansas State Press, May 1, 1942.

  Washington’s knees were so banged up: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 134.

  Mulling over the war: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 136.

  15. The Indispensable Robinson

  “Jack was dedicated”: Allen, Jackie Robinson, 37.

  The 1940 football season: Daily Bruin, September 30, 1940; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 80.

  Robinson became a one-man show: http://www.benzduck.com/the-program-project/, accessed December 4, 2014.

  “There were a number of games”: Daily Bruin, April 24, 1997.

  Ray Bartlett also figured prominently: Los Angeles Times, September 4, 1940.

  In the season’s opening game: Martin, Benching Jim Crow, 38.

  Next the Bruins fell: Los Angeles Times, October 5, 1940.

  Coach Horrell was upbeat: Los Angeles Times, October 5, 1940.

  Los Angeles Times columnist: Los Angeles Times, October 6, 1940.

  Despite Horrell’s support: Smith, Showdown, 38.

  The undefeated Stanford “Wow Boys”: J. W. Johnson, The Wow Boys, 48, 58.

  The Bruins were ready: San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1940.

  The Stanford Daily “welcomed” Robinson: J. W. Johnson, The Wow Boys, 100.

  Shaughnessy said about Robinson: Covey, The Wow Boys, 124,

  The Los Angeles Times described Robinson: Los Angeles Times, November 3, 1940.

  Coach Tex Oliver: http://www.benzduck.com/the-program-project/, accessed November 4, 2014.

  Although the Ducks bottled up Robinson: The Oregonian, November 10, 1940.

  As Los Angeles Times sportswriter Al Wolf put it: Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1940.

  They had to come from behind: Los Angeles Times, November 17, 1940.

  “They all wound up falling flat”: Los Angeles Times; cited in Daily Bruin, April 4, 1997.

  Coach Horrell had little to say: Los Angeles Times, November 24, 1940.

  Robinson thought of dropping out: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 81.

  It turned out to be another hapless year: Daily Bruin, February 17, 1941; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 81.

  Racial taunts from Berkeley fans: Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 121.

  Again Robinson was left off: Daily Bruin, March 4, 1941; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 81–22.

  “It’s purely the case”: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 61.

  Robinson decided he had had enough: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 11.

  “My brothers, their friends and acquaintances”: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, Baseball
Has Done It, 44.

  Robinson also realized: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 11–12.

  The day Robinson departed UCLA: dailybruin.com/1997/04/23/a-bruin-for(-all-seasons/, accessed November 10, 2013.

  In his senior year Robinson met his future wife: Los Angeles Times, September 2, 1987.

  Rachel was shocked: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 82.

  Jackie and Rachel’s relationship and marriage: Tygiel, Extra Bases, 4.

  One of Rachel’s observations: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 78.

  Newspaper sports pages effused over Robinson’s career: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 65.

  16. World War II Beckons

  “Things I had been doing all my life”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 125.

  It didn’t take Robinson long: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 83.

  The NYA saw a need: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 84.

  While he was working at the NYA camp: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 82.

  Only once during his time on the job: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 84–85.

  Because of the war: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 12.

  Robinson was having trouble: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 65.

  In one scrimmage: Chicago Tribune, August 16, 1941.

  On August 28 the Bears: Chicago Tribune, August 29, 1941.

  Robinson then sought a job: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 86.

  “Jack didn’t like to work”: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 86.

  Robinson continued to play football: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 61.

  Robinson headed home: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 12.

  On December 7: http://www.pasadena.edu/about/history/alumni/bartlett/bartlett1.cfm, accessed January 13, 2016.

  When Robinson returned: http://thesportjournal.org/article/the-interrelated-back-stories-of-kenny-washington-reintegrating-the-nfl-in-1946-and-jackie-robinson-integrating-major-league-baseball-in-1947/, accessed November 11, 2015.

  Robinson took a job: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 87–89.

  Robinson’s bid for an exemption: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 89.

  During the football offseason: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 121.

  Strode became the good guy: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 122.

  Then football season resumed: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 124.

  Segregation was in force: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 125.

  But being an athlete brought him privileges: Los Angeles Times, March 26, 1991.

  “We started to have a good time”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 126.

  The army football team: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 127.

  Strode played for three more years: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 128–29.

  Strode was sent to Guam: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 132.

  The Bears went on to win: http://thesportjournal.org/article/the-interrelated-back-stories-of-kenny-washington-reintegrating-the-nfl-in-1946-and-jackie-robinson-integrating-major-league-baseball-in-1947/, accessed November 17, 2015.

  17. Moving Up in the Ranks

  “When I followed [Bradley’s] career”: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 43.

  Not long after Pearl Harbor: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  Soon thereafter he received his draft notice: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 37–38.

  Bradley knew it would be difficult: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 42, 64.

  Bradley’s first assignment: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 64.

  That assignment lasted three months: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 36.

  Bradley’s abilities as a track star: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 39.

  Bradley organized sports programs: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 37.

  After five years: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 43.

  Bradley became a mentor: James Robinson, Tom Bradley, 61.

  After four years in vice: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 61.

  After basic training: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 13.

  Robinson was put in charge: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 14–15.

  Robinson also was playing: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 16–17.

  The army barred Robinson: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 95.

  Robinson was soon transferred: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 19–22.

  The upshot was: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 110.

  Good fortune was about to come: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 110.

  During the winter: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 113–14.

  Southern humiliated outmanned Huston: New York Times, May 23, 2015.

  In March Robinson headed off: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 116–19.

  The Communist Party newspaper: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 96–100.

  Perhaps the most influential sportswriter: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4943434, accessed November 17, 2015.

  “You pay the prices”: Christian Science Monitor, August 16, 2006.

  Rodney once told: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 70.

  Rodney’s “work”: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4943434, accessed August 27, 2013.

  As early as 1934: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 73–74.

  Outside of the black press: Christian Science Monitor, August 18, 2006.

  “The conscience of American journalism”: Dorinson and Warmund, Jackie Robinson, 74.

  Rodney and the Daily Worker: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4943434, accessed August 27, 2013.

  Robinson always was appreciative: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 83.

  Sports historian Larry Lester: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4943434, accessed January 13, 2016.

  Rodney said in 1996: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4943434, accessed January 13, 2006.

  In his biography: Silber, Press Box Red, 98.

  Life was not easy: G. D. Johnson, Profiles in Hue, 280.

  “When I look back”: Cottrell, Two Pioneers, no page number.

  Robinson questioned: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 24–25.

  Robinson played in sixty-three games: http://www.baseball-reference.com/nlb/team.cgi?id=993e3fb0, accessed February 22, 2014.

  18. Making NFL History

  “From 1933 to 1946”: Young, “Pro Football Discovers the Black College,” 116.

  When the Chicago Bears’ founder: Levy, Tackling Jim Crow, 55.

  NFL owners never acknowledged: Bishop, “A Nod from Destiny,” 82.

  They wanted Coliseum officials to know: http://www.si.com/vault/2009/10/12/105865272/the-nfls-jackie-robinson, accessed January 14, 2016.

  The Rams “didn’t take Kenny”: “The NFL’s Jackie Robinson,” https://www.si.com/vault/2009/10/12/105865272/the-nfls-jackie-robinson, accessed March 31, 2017.

  “The people out there”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 142.

  Reeves also knew: Hartford Courier, August 8, 1999.

  Head coach Bob Snyder also admitted: Peterson, Pigskin, 186.

  Ironically while the Rams were forced to sign: Smith, Showdown, 150–54.

  Washington’s uncle, Rocky: Ross, Outside the Lines, 82–83.

  The Rams decided: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 142.

  “My signing with the Rams”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 149–50.

  Strode said he had the ability: http://www.biography.com/people/woody-strode-40563#professional-sports-career, accessed January 14, 2016.

  Strode said he didn’t realize: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 150.

  Dick Hyland, a sports columnist: Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1946.

  Washington made the team: Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1946.