I Never Had it Made; An Autobiography by Robinson, Jackie [as told to Alfred Duckett] - 1995

Hopewell, NJ: The Ecco Press, 1995. Third printing [stated]. Trade paperback. Good. xxii, 275, [7] pages. Illustrations. Cover creased and has wear and soiling. Sticker residue on back cover. Foreword by Cornel West. Introduction by Hank Aaron. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues. I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment". Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball. I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller. I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field. Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 - October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball second baseman who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. The Dodgers, by signing Robinson, heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Robinson had an exceptional 10-year baseball career. He was the recipient of the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949. Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship. Robinson's character, his use of nonviolence, and his unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation which then marked many other aspects of American life. He influenced the culture of and contributed significantly to the Civil Right s Movement. Robinson also was the first black television analyst in MLB.