The Black Bruins: The Remarkable Lives of UCLA's Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett
Page 30
13. Decision Time
“I guess we realized”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 105.
The team, loser of twenty-eight consecutive games: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 73.
Johns said Robinson was “a great player”: Los Angeles Times, September 12, 1939.
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 Robinso
n, 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.