The Black Bruins: The Remarkable Lives of UCLA's Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett

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The Black Bruins: The Remarkable Lives of UCLA's Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett Page 31

by James W. Johnson


  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.

  According to Strode: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 153.

  Gordon Macker: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 153.

  Although Strode played: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 154.

  Looking back on those days: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 154.

  Traveling with the Rams: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 150.

  On one trip to Chicago: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 152.

  “It was great”: Los Angeles Times, August 8, 1963.

  Strode wrote in his memoirs: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 152.

  At times white players hit Washington: Hartford Courier, August 8, 1999.

  In a game against the Chicago Cardinals: Pittsburgh Courier, October 19, 1946; cited in Levy, Tackling Jim Crow, 94.

  Bob Snyder noted: biography.jrank.org/pages/2533/Washington-Kenny.html, accessed August 22, 2014.

  Snyder recalled that Washington and Strode: Peterson, Pigskin, 183.

  Strode played little that year: http://www.si.com/vault/2009/10/12/105865272/the-nfls-jackie-robinson, accessed January 14, 2016.

  Line coach George Trafton: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 154–55.

  It wasn’t the first time: Manchel, “The Man Who Made the Stars Shine Brighter,” 39

  On the field,: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/The-Legacy-of-Kenny-Washington/d6ba4c71-fa7b-4fd4–8209-fd44b84900b6, accessed January 14, 2016.

  But Strode’s and Washington’s mark: New York Times, June 26, 1971.

  Washington left football: Los Angeles Times, December 13, 1948.

  Strode’s football career: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 161–67.

  “I loved football”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 170.

  19. The Negro League Years

  “The plate is the same width”: Mann, “Say Jack Robinson, Colliers, March 2, 1946, 66–67.”

  Jackie Robinson was fed up: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 24–25.

  The players often slept: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 124.

  On August 24, 1945: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 30.

  “I was thinking”: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 103.

  Who was this Branch Rickey: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 1.

  What transpired: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 126.

  Rickey told Robinson: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 34.

  “Mr. Rickey,” Robinson asked: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 32–33.

  “You’ve got to do this job”: Dorinson and Warmund, Jackie Robinson, 110.

  Rickey drew on the New Testament: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 127.

  Robinson withheld from Rickey: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 105.

  He agreed to a contract: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 34.

  Rickey recalled: Denenberg, Stealing Home, 114.

  A childhood friend: http://www.voanews.com/content/a-13–2007–03–28-voa71–66542467/554202.html, accessed November 21, 2015.

  On October 23, 1945: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 34–35; Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 71.

  When Robinson spoke before the reporters: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 35.

  The editor of a black New York weekly: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/28518376/, accessed January 14, 2016.

  Future Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 35.

  Robinson replied that he wished: Mann, “Say Jack Robinson.”

  Sportswriters Dan Parker of the New York Mirror and Red Smith: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 35–36.

  An editorial in the Bible of baseball: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bb9e2490, accessed January 14, 2016.

  Atlanta Journal sports editor Ed Danforth: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/civil-rights-movement/essays/before-jackie-how-strikeout-king-satchel-paige-struck-do, accessed January 10, 2016.

  Some supporters saw Rickey’s and Robinson’s efforts: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 74–76.

  It is interesting that black players were surprised: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 78.

  Even so, Paige was uncertain: Eig, Opening Day, 18.

  Major League officials: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 79–80.

  Rickey traveled to Louisville: Dorinson and Warmund, Jackie Robinson, 17.

  Before spring training began: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 39–41; Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 131.

  At Daytona Beach: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 42.

  The Robinsons faced discrimination: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 107.

  Robinson’s manager at Montreal: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 103–4.

  Rickey had placed Hopper in this difficult situation: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 196.

  After Robinson’s talents began to show: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 104.

  “They seemed to have little reaction”: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 43–44.

  Although Robinson’s hitting was weak: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 146.

  During spring training: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 148.

  Toward the end: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 118.

  His turnaround: Baltimore Afro-American, March 22, 1947.

  Along the way, Robinson’s morale was stoked: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 49.

  “He did everything”: Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1990; cited in http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bb9e2490, accessed January 16, 2016.

  Montreal’s early schedule: Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment, 122.

  Although his manager tolerated Robinson: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 48.

  A Montreal sportswriter: Montreal Gazette, June 4, 1946; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 152.

  The season was not without incidents: Montreal Gazette, June 4, 1946; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 154.

  Robinson was consistently the target: Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1990.

  The Royals won: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 50.

  The Royals lost two: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 51.

  Robinson and his teammates: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 157.

  After he showered: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 51–52.

  Robinson finished the season: Kahn, Rickey & Robinson, 108.

  20. End of the Line at LAPD

  “The only thing that will stop you”: http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/Tom+Bradley/1/index.html, accessed January 14, 2016.

  If Tom Bradley encountered racial discrimination: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Tom_Bradley_EL/TBradBio.html, accessed February 18, 2015.

  When the Bradleys and their two children moved in: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  He refused to let such setbacks wear him down: Los Angeles Times, July 27, 1974.

  On another occasion he remarked: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  When he was appointed as a lieutenant: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 71.

  Until then blacks had been assigned to street duties: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 68.

  After Bradley retired: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 69.

  Off duty Bradley suffered the humiliation of discrimination: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  The rank of lieutenant: Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2008.

  In 1974 Bradley revealed: Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1974.

  Knowing that he could not move up any higher: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 69, 72.

  While still on the force: Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1982.

  He was hire
d: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 84.

  Bradley joined the liberal California Democratic Council: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 57.

  Bradley agreed to seek the appointment: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 74.

  It was a slap in the face: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 59.

  Two years into practicing law: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 61.

  Prejudice, however, followed him: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 66.

  This time the voters spoke: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 67.

  After Bradley won the election: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 74.

  Bradley had said during the campaign: http://www.tombradleylegacy.org/personal-biography.html, accessed May 20, 2015.

  Much of Bradley’s term: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 73.

  At the same time Bradley tended to hide: http://www.tombradleylegacy.org/personal-biography.html, accessed May 20, 2015.

  Bradley lacked charisma: Los Angeles Times, September 30, 1998.

  Slowly but surely Bradley was making his mark: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 84.

  In 1969 Bradley decided: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 89–90.

  As election results came in: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 90.

  Weiner was right: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bradley_(American_politician), accessed January 15, 2016.

  Bradley refused to lower himself: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 159.

  “The voters have approved”: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 108.

  No sooner was the race over: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 111.

  He was relentless: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 114.

  In formally announcing his intention: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 118.

  Bradley again finished on top: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 124.

  Little changed in Yorty’s campaign: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 128–29.

  When Bradley moved into the mayor’s office: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 136.

  Now it was time: http://lanetwork.facinghistory.org/a-local-civil-rights-leader-mayor-tom-bradley/, accessed January 15, 2016.

  21. Leaving Athletics

  “It would be a shame”: Sun Reporter (San Francisco), January 25, 1996.

  In 1950, when Kenny Washington was thirty-one years old: Los Angeles Times, February 27, 1950.

  Washington said that if his batting was as good: Chicago Defender, February 18, 1950.

  Giants manager Leo Durocher: Los Angeles Times, March 24, 1950.

  The chance came too late: Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1950.

  Five days later Durocher dropped the news: Los Angeles Times, March 24, 1950.

  Washington did play: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=washin002ken, accessed February 10, 2015.

  Between 1941 and 1950: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913486/, accessed January 15, 2015.

  Washington became active: Cited in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Washington_(American_football), accessed January 15, 2016.

  In 1956 UCLA retired Washington’s No. 13 jersey: http://www.biography.com/people/kenny-washington-40244#early-years, accessed January 15, 2016.

  In December 1970 Washington was honored: Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1970.

  When Woody Strode heard: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 242–43.

  Bob Waterfield: Los Angeles Times, June 25, 1971.

  When Robinson heard: Sun Reporter (San Francisco), January 25, 1996.

  Strode wrote years later: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 243.

  A. S. “Doc” Young: Chicago Defender, June 30, 1971.

  Many former teammates: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 243.

  After the war, Bartlett returned to Pasadena: http://www.pasadena.edu/about/history/alumni/bartlett/bartlett1.cfm, accessed February 13, 2015.

  At the age of forty-seven: Pasadena City College Courier, July 16, 2008.

  In 1999 Bartlett represented Jackie Robinson: Pasadena Star-News, June 25, 2008.

  Bartlett was a past president: http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/32221.pdf, accessed May 31, 2015.

  In 1987 Pasadena City College honored him: http://collection.pasadenadigitalhistory.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16237coll6/id/12830/rec/6, accessed January 15, 2016.

  Said his son Bob: Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2008.

  22. Movie Star in the Making

  “I was strictly a mechanic”: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/bio, accessed January 15, 2016.

  When Woody Strode returned from Canada: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 171.

  Professional wrestling: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 173.

  When wrestling in Dallas, Texas, Strode remembered: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 176–79.

  On May 20, 1950: Chicago Defender, May 5, 1950.

  Strode’s fortunes soon changed again: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 179–83.

  Next came an offer: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 185–89.

  Another change was in the works: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 188–89.

  Strode’s next big role: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 196–98.

  Peter Ustinov: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/bio, accessed January 15, 2016.

  “For the first five or six years”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 254.

  When Strode returned home: Manchel, The Man Who Made the Stars Shine Brighter, 42.

  In the film, set in the 1860s: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/JohnFord, accessed November 19, 2015; Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 199–207.

  But it was a disappointment: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  Ford told Strode: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 231.

  Ebony, a magazine predominantly for black readers: Cited in Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 191.

  Sergeant Rutledge was the start: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  Ford’s biographer: McBride, Searching for John Ford, 652.

  It turned out Strode wasn’t through with wrestling: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 213.

  In a movie with Charlton Heston: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 221.

  Strode said that after Peckinpah called him a mongrel: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 222–23.

  As Strode was obtaining better and better roles: Chicago Defender, June 19, 1965.

  Strode decided in 1966: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  The recreated Tenth Cavalry unit: Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1966.

  One of Strode’s most popular movies: Chicago Defender, June 4, 1966, and January 18, 1995.

  Once on the movie set: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/bio, accessed November 11, 2015.

  Frank O’Rourke: http://moviemorlocks.com/2010/08/06/ill-find-ya-woody-strode-in-the-professionals/, accessed January 15, 2016.

  Strode was feeling the heat: Manchel, The Man Who Made the Stars Shine Brighter, 39.

  “Most of my life”: Pittsburgh Press, December 8, 1971.

  Frank Manchel in his book: Manchel, Every Step a Struggle, 359.

  Strode’s disenchantment: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  Said his nephew Tollie Strode Jr.: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/article29329366.html, accessed January 15, 2016.

  From 1969 to 1971: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 241.

  “Race is not a factor”: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  It was in Europe: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 240

  Strode next starred: Manchel, Every Step a Struggle, 357.

  The New York Times wrote: New York Times, August 26, 1971.

  Strode made one more Hollywood film: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 247.

  Strode returned to Italy: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 249.

  In 1980 Strode’s wife Luana died: Boston Globe, December 20, 1981.

  Age was catching up: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 254–55.

 

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