The Black Bruins

by James W. Johnson

  “Jackie was really pigeon-toed”: New York Daily News, April 13, 1997,

  For the season Robinson scored: G. D. Johnson, Profiles in Hue, 277.

  Despite Jackie’s acceptance: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 61.

  When Robinson graduated: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, Baseball Has Done It, 45–46.

  A Stanford alumnus purportedly offered: Ebony, July 1957; cited in Falkner, Great Time Coming, 49.

  USC showed some interest: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 58.

  Woody Strode said USC used its money: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 26, 28.

  Finally Jackie decided: http://www.pasadena.edu/about/history/alumni/bartlett/bartlett1.cfm, accessed August 24, 2013.

  Bartlett joined Robinson: Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1991.

  Robinson liked UCLA: Jackie Robinson with Duckett, I Never Had It Made, 10.

  “I didn’t want to see”: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 59.

  Jackie liked the opportunity: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 58–59.

  But first he had to make up classes: Los Angeles Times, February 2, 1939.

  Bill Spaulding, now athletic director: Mann, The Jackie Robinson Story, 52.

  In those days: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 77.

  Bartlett stayed at PJC: Los Angeles Times, June 30, 1967.

  8. Fitting in at UCLA

  “The new setting”: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 27.

  He recalled: Los Angeles Times, April 24, 1998.

  He also worked summer jobs: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 38.

  One of his best summer jobs: tombradleylegacy.oprg/personal-biography.html, accessed July 20, 2012.

  Bradley wasn’t the only athlete: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/333896%7c0/woody-strode-8–5.html, accessed December 6, 2015.

  “I didn’t take any persuasion”: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 31.

  He was recruited: LuValle, “Dr. James E. LuValle,” 32.

  After talking with track coaches: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 25–26.

  Bradley said years later: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 31.

  Bradley’s long sought-after goal: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 27.

  Carl McBain, a white hurdler: Los Angeles Times, September 9, 2007.

  Bradley commuted: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 27.

  “I don’t know of any blacks”: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 38.

  While minorities were accepted: Morehouse, Fighting in the Jim Crow Army, 30.

  He became a firefighter: Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2010.

  Bradley was convinced: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 36–37.

  Bradley and Washington were close: Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1973.

  Track was the perfect sport: Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1973.

  Bradley joined Kappa Alpha Psi: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 28.

  Bradley also became a member: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 38.

  Bradley and other black members: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 36.

  On one trip to Arizona: Payne and Ratzan, Tom Bradley, 29.

  Bradley recalled that his teammates: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 36.

  When Bradley later became the mayor: Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1973.

  Bradley ran track: Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1939.

  9. Under-the-Table Help

  “When they took me out to Westwood”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 33.

  Strode revealed: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 32.

  Strode wrote: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 32.

  Strode noted that actor Joe E. Brown: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 33.

  Bradley received an athletic scholarship: Bradley, “The Impossible Dream,” 31.

  Alumni and boosters did most of the recruiting: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 72, and Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 211–12.

  Bob Campbell remembered Robinson: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 68.

  Washington and Strode also worked for the Campbells: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 67.

  The help still was forthcoming: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 71.

  Bartlett believed: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 72.

  Providing jobs for athletes: Kemper, College Football and American Culture in the Cold War Era, 44.

  Because of such inducements: Los Angeles Times, March 27, 1991.

  The PCC’s Northwest members: J. W. Johnson, The Wow Boys, 85–89.

  On January 5, 1940: Associated Press in the New York Times, January 5, 1940.

  Atherton singled out UC Berkeley: United Press in the Los Angeles Times, September 3, 1940.

  Atherton felt it was unfortunate: Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1940.

  Campbell recalled: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 67–69.

  As a result of the investigation: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 67–69.

  Campbell said all UCLA players stayed in school: Campbell and Campbell, “Town and Gown Booksellers Oral History,” 68.

  10. Filling the Coffers

  “They came to see Kenny and me play”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 62.

  Woody Strode remembered: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 62.

  In 1933, partly because of the expenses: Ackerman, My Fifty Year Love-in at UCLA, 282–83.

  UCLA fans received a scare: Los Angeles Times, January 21, 1938.

  In the first game of the 1938 season: Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1938.

  The Bruins traveled to Eugene: Los Angeles Times, October 3, 1938.

  Los Angeles Times reporter Dyer wrote: Los Angeles Times, October 13, 1938.

  Next the Bruins traveled north: Los Angeles Times, October 16, 1938.

  In their next game: Los Angeles Times, October 23, 1938.

  The Bruins beat Stanford: Los Angeles Times, October 30, 1938.

  UCLA traveled to Pullman: Los Angeles Times, November 6, 1938.

  UCLA went out of its conference: Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1938.

  The two games in Hawaii: Honolulu Advertiser, May 23, 2010.

  Spaulding took twenty-five of his favorite players: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 78.

  While attending a luau: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 78–79.

  The Wai brothers: Honolulu Advertiser, May 23, 2010.

  11. High Expectations

  “Take away the Negro stars”: Pasadena Star-News, November 6, 1939; cited in Demas, Integrating the Gridiron, 39.

  While he was being hailed: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 62–63.

  Robinson may have been limiting: http://cooperstownersincanada.com/2013/04/04/jackie-robinson-couldve-been-a-football-star/, accessed January 31, 2015.

  When Robinson enrolled at UCLA: Falkner, Great Time Coming, 51.

  Robinson concentrated on his studies: California Eagle, March 9, 1939; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 63.

  During the summer he found time: California Eagle, July 6, 1939; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 63.

  Brother Frank Robinson never got the chance: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 64.

  Robinson kept busy: Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1990.

  Ray Bartlett recalled: Falkner, Great Time Coming, 29.

  Robinson found himself in trouble: Washington Post, August 22, 1948.

  UCLA wasn’t about to let that happen: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 65–66.

  Newspapers used sports jargon: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 47–48.

  The event hung heavily: Washington Post, August 22, 1949.

  The Chicago Defender printed: Chicago Defender, September 9, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 115.

  The California Eagle noted: California Eagle, September 7, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 115.

  The Eagle wrote: California Eagle, September 28, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone�
�s All-Americans, 115–116.

  A great deal of the excitement: Los Angeles Times, August 27, 1939.

  Robinson “was the first”: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 84.

  Coaches were singing: Los Angeles Times, September 20, 1939.

  When Robinson joined Washington: http://www.loumontgomerylegacy.com/whos-lou/university-defies-racial-segregation, accessed June 25, 2012.

  Just before the TCU game: Los Angeles Times, September 28, 1939.

  Although the Horned Frogs were expected to win: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 68.

  Robinson handed out some praise: California Eagle, October 3, 1939.

  TCU’s coach Dutch Meyer : Los Angeles Times, September 30, 1939.

  For all the hoopla: http://www.mocavo.com/California-Eagle-Volume-1941-Novolume-27-Dec-1942-Jan-Aug/633279/285, accessed December 12, 2014.

  As Charles H. Martin wrote: Martin, Benching Jim Crow, 48.

  12. Disappointing End to the Season

  “I guess you’ve got to have”: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 52.

  Their next opponent: http://sportspressnw.com/2192490/2014/wayback-machine-history-at-husky-stadium, accessed December 4, 2014.

  The UCLA Daily Bruin: Daily Bruin, October 9, 1939; cited in Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 68.

  A Seattle Times sportswriter: http://sportspressnw.com/2192490/2014/wayback-machine-history-at-husky-stadium, accessed December 4, 2014.

  Robinson also caught a 43-yard pass: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 69.

  One sportswriter could not resist: http://sportspressnw.com/2192490/2014/wayback-machine-history-at-husky-stadium, accessed December 4, 2014.

  Local newspapers were finally acknowledging: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 253.

  Los Angeles Times sportswriter Paul Zimmerman: Los Angeles Times, October 9, 1939.

  The California Eagle: California Eagle, November 2, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 124–25.

  For example, the Defender proudly wrote: California Eagle, October 7, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 122.

  Robinson and Washington: Los Angeles Examiner, September 30, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 122.

  The Daily Bruin remarked: Daily Bruin, October 9, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 31.

  The UCLA Magazine wrote: UCLA Magazine, November 10, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 31.

  Next up for the Bruins: Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1991.

  Said teammate Ned Mathews: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/970425teammatesRecall, accessed November 21, 2015.

  Before the game: Smith, Showdown, 27.

  Stanford coach Tiny Thornhill: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 51.

  Robinson bristled: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 69.

  Coach Horrell defended: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 49,

  One teammate, Buck Gilmore: Los Angeles Times, August 21, 1988.

  One juxtaposition of a picture: Los Angeles Times, November 16, 1948.

  Bob Hunter of the Los Angeles Examiner: Cited in Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 65.

  Tom Bradley did: California Eagle, November 9, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 102.

  Black players also were called: Los Angeles Times, February 17, 1939.

  On at least two occasions: Los Angeles Times, December 1, 1939.

  A black newspaper: Pittsburgh Courier, September 9, 1939; cited in Smith, Showdown, 37.

  Braven Dyer: Los Angeles Times, November 5, 1937; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 103–4.

  The highlight of the game: Daily Bruin, April 24, 1997.

  Then Robinson was injured: Daily Bruin, November 2, 1939.

  Questions arose: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 70–71.

  The Los Angeles Examiner reported: Los Angeles Examiner, November 2, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 126.

  While there were racial overtones: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 86–87.

  Because of Robinson’s arrests: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 66.

  Bill Ackerman, UCLA’s athletic director: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 88–89.

  One rumor making the rounds: Rowan with Robinson, Wait Till Next Year, 48.

  Robinson may have been upset: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 89.

  The Chicago Defender estimated: Chicago Defender, November 11, 1939.

  Without Robinson Santa Clara ganged up on Washington: Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1939.

  Washington played the entire game: Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1939.

  Robinson was back in the lineup: Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1939.

  Robinson was back to full strength: Daily Bruin, December 1, 1939.

  On a final TD drive: California Eagle, December 7, 1939.

  To celebrate homecoming: California Eagle, November 30, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 131, 134.

  USC students burned the effigies: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 97.

  Alongside that controversy: California Eagle, December 7, 1939.

  If the Bruins beat USC: Pasadena Star-News, November 6, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 94.

  The New York Times’s esteemed sportswriter: New York Times, December 12, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 94.

  There was no chance: Pasadena Star-News, November 11, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 94.

  Danzig asked Tennessee coach Bob “Major” Neyland: New York Times, December 9, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 94.

  Later Danzig, Neyland, and Tennessee supporters: Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 6, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 100.

  The California Eagle saw: California Eagle, November 9, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 96.

  The Pasadena Star-News wrote: Pasadena Star-News, November 6, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 143.

  A Los Angeles Times columnist speculated: Los Angeles Times, November 28, 1939; citied in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 143.

  The 1939 USC-UCLA game: Wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Bell_(UCLA-USC), accessed January 11, 2016.

  A record crowd of 103,303: Chicago Defender, December 12, 1939.

  Sam Lacy, the sports editor: Afro-American, November 18, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 86.

  If it hadn’t been for Robinson: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 101.

  Coach Horrell said after the game: Chicago Defender, November 23, 1939.

  Horrell pulled Washington: Strode and Young, Goal Dust, 104.

  “I have never been so moved emotionally: Journal of Sport History 15, no. 3 (Winter 1988); cited in Smith, Outside the Pale: The Exclusion of Blacks from the National Football League, 1934–1946.

  After the game Horrell was asked: http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=football&ID=353, accessed November 16, 2015.

  The Amsterdam News of New York: California Eagle, November 21, 1939; cited in Kaliss, Everyone’s All-Americans, 153–54.

  The next day, when Tennessee was selected: Amsterdam News, November 16, 1939; cited in Demas, “On the Threshold,” 101.

  Toastmaster Paul R. Williams: California Eagle, November 16, 1939.

  Coach Horrell attended the banquet: California Eagle, November 16, 1939

  Washington and Robinson were slighted: biography.jrank.org/pages/2533/Washington-Kenny.html, accessed August 22, 2014.

  Looking back over the season: Demas, “On the Threshold,” 92.

  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.