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The Jackie Robinson Museum Is About a Lot More Than Baseball
Robinson accomplished a great deal on the field, but a museum celebrating his life puts as much focus on his civil rights work.
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The Jackie Robinson Museum welcomed visitors of all ages and some very special guests during November public programs, which kicked off with Fall Fun Community Day. Taking place just days after the Texas Rangers won the World Series, Fall Fun Day paid tribute to Jackie Robinson’s all-star baseball career. Visitors enjoyed museum tours highlighting Robinson’s path to the Dodgers, a showcase of artifacts including trading cards and World Series programs and craft activities exploring Robinson’s legacy. The highlights of the day were undoubtedly its special guests. Sonya Pankey Robinson, the eldest grandchild of Jackie and Rachel Robinson, delighted visitors – children and adults alike – with a reading of Testing the Ice by her aunt, Sharon Robinson.
Ms. Pankey Robinson was also joined by none other than her grandmother, Mrs. Rachel Robinson, who greeted visitors at the event.
The following week, the Museum had the pleasure of hosting a screening of award-nominated documentary, It Ain’t Over, about the legacy of baseball legend Yogi Berra. Arriving guests had the opportunity to tour the Museum and even got a sneak peek at a few object highlights from the collection. Following the screening, Howard Bryant (author and senior writer, ESPN) joined Lindsay Berra (granddaughter of Yogi Berra, sports journalist, and film producer) and Sean Mullin (director of It Ain’t Over) to discuss the intersecting careers and legacies of Robinson and Berra—from wartime service experiences during World War II to their enduring resonance as pop culture icons whose legacies transcend sports.
On Robinson and Berra’s famous collision at home plate in Game One of the 1955 World Series, the panelists looked beyond the question of “safe or out?” Bryant reflected:
“In baseball, we talk about numbers, numbers, numbers. But moments are what we remember in the sport. To have the greatest catcher against the greatest base stealer in the World Series… to have that moment endure the way that it does. I love that touch.”
Berra added that despite their famous dispute that day, her grandfather had tremendous respect for Robinson as a player.
“Speed pushes people…out of your comfort zone…it forces everyone to be a little bit miserable. And Jackie was so good at that.”
