Quotes

Dialogue

Wendell Smith: In 1945, America's greatest generation came back from war. (The flags of freedom fly over Europe.) Smith: Nazi Germany had been defeated...and three months later, Imperial Japan surrendered as well. (And there's jubilation around this earth.) Smith: Men returned home. Among them, some of baseball's most beloved names. Musial. DiMaggio. Williams. Life in the United States could return to normal. (TV clip: What's the guy's name? What's on second? Who's on second? Who's on first? I don't know. Third base [audience laughing] Smith: And baseball was proof positive that democracy was real. A baseball box score, after all, is a democratic thing. It doesn't say how big you are or what religion you follow. It does not know how you voted or the color of your skin. It simply states what kind of ballplayer you were on any particular day. (And he did it. It's a home run. They knew he'd do it.) Smith: African Americans had served their country gallantly. They returned home from fighti

Dialogue

Jackie Robinson: Mr. Rickey. What's this about? Branch Rickey: This is about baseball, Jackie. I see you starting in spring with our affiliate in Montreal. If you make it there, we'll try you down here... with the Dodgers. With the white Brooklyn Dodgers. [scoffs] Hmm. Branch Rickey: I'll pay you $600 a month. And a $3500 bonus when you sign the contract. That agreeable? Jackie Robinson: Yes, that's fine but- Branch Rickey: There's one condition. I know you can hit behind the runner. That you can read a pitch. One question is, can you control your temper? Jackie Robinson: My temper? Branch Rickey: Yes, your temper! What are you, deaf? A black man in white baseball, heh, can you imagine the reaction? The vitriol? Dodgers check into a hotel, a, uh, a decent, good hotel. You're worn out from the road. Some clerk won't give you the pen to sign in with. "We got no room for you, boy. Not even down in the coal bin where you belong." Team stops at a restaurant. Waiter won't take your order. "D

Dialogue

Jackie Robinson: What the hell, Wendell? Wendell Smith: A man came by while you was asleep. He said more men were coming. It might have been those fellas. Mr. Rickey said to get you to Daytona Beach ASAP. Jackie Robinson: Why didn't you say so? Wendell Smith: Well, Mr. Rickey was afraid you wouldn't want to leave. You'd want to stay there and fight. Wendell Smith: Man, what in the hell are you laughing at? Jackie Robinson: I thought you woke me because, because I was cut from the team.

Dialogue

Mr. Brock: Well, the wife's inside cookin'. You know what she asked me? She asked me this mornin', "What do you serve when a hero comes to dinner?" Jackie Robinson: Um, Mr. Brock, I'm just a ball player. Mr. Brock: Oh no no, you tell that to the little colored boys playin' baseball in Florida today. To them, you a hero.

Dialogue

Leo Durocher: [Making noise with metal platter] Wake up, now ladies! Wake up! [To the Dodgers players] It has come to my attention that some of you fellas don't wanna play with Robinson. That you've even got a petition you've drawn up and you're all going to sign. Well boys you know what you can do with your petition you can wipe your asses with it. Dixie Walker: Oh come on, Leo... Leo Durocher: [To Walker] Come on what? Dixie Walker: Ballplayers gotta live together, shower together. It ain't fair to force him on us like this. Besides I got a hardware store back home- Leo Durocher: [To Walker] Screw your hardware store, Dix. And if you don't like it, screw you. Mr. Rickey would be <u>happy</u> to make other arrangements for you. [To the players] Now, I don't care if he is yellow or black or has stripes like a zebra. If Robinson can help us win, and everything I have seen says he can, then he is gonna play ON THIS BALL CLUB. LIKE IT, LUMP IT, MAKE YOUR MINDS UP TO IT, BECAUSE HE'S COMIN

Dialogue

Jackie Robinson: Taxi! Wendell Smith: Hey, Jack. Jackie Robinson: You again. Wendell Smith: That's right. Me again. There something wrong with that, Jack? Jackie Robinson: Where's the car? Wendell Smith: Right this way. [During the drive] They can't keep you in Montreal for long. After these exhibition games, they're gonna have to bring you up. [Robinson remains silent] You don't have two words to rub together, do you? Wendell Smith: You ever wonder why I sit down behind third base, with my typewriter on my knees? Does that ever cross your mind? It's because Negro reporters aren't allowed in the press box. So guess what? You, Mr. Robinson, are not the only one with something at stake here. Jackie Robinson: I apologize. You've been there for me through this... ...more than anyone besides Rae and Mr. Rickey. But I guess that's what bothers me. Wendell Smith: How do you mean? Jackie Robinson: I don't like needing someone to be there for me. I don't like needing anyone for anything. I neve

Dialogue

Ben Chapman: [To Robinson] Why don'tcha look in'a mirror? This'a white man's game, alright, get that THROUGH YOUR THICK MONKEY SKULL! Rachel Robinson: [From the stands] <small>Look at me baby. Look at me baby look at me.</small> Robinson: [Sees Rickey approaching, points his bat to Rickey] No! [Panting] No. Next white son of a bitch that opens his mouth I'll smash his goddamn teeth in. Branch Rickey: You can't do that Jack. Jackie Robinson: So I'm supposed to just let this go on? Branch Rickey: These men have to live with themselves. Jackie Robinson: I have to live with myself, too! And right now I'm living a sermon out there. Branch Rickey: You don't matter now Jack. You're in this thing. You don't have a right to pull out from the backing of people that believe in you, that respect you, that need you. If you fight, they won't say that Chapman forced you to, they'll say that you're... in over your head, that you don't belong here. Jackie Robinson: You don't know what it's like having

Dialogue

Branch Rickey: What can I do for you, Pee Wee? Pee Wee Reese: Well, Mr. Rickey, it's like this. The series in Cincinnati next week? Branch Rickey: Yes. Important road trip. We're only three games out of first. Pee Wee Reese: Yes, sir. Now, you know I'm from Kentucky. Branch Rickey: Then Cincinnati will nearly be a home game for you. Pee Wee Reese: Well... ..I got this letter. Apparently, some people aren't too happy about me playing with Robinson. [Dump a piece of paper on Rickey's desk] Branch Rickey: Huh? [Unfolds the letter] "Nigger lover. Watch yourself. We'll get you, carpetbagger." [Chuckles] Pretty typical stuff. Pee Wee Reese: Well, it's not typical to me, sir. Branch Rickey: [Browses through a filing cabinet] How many of those letters have you gotten, Pee Wee? Pee Wee Reese: Just the one. Ain't that enough? [Watches Rickey pull out stacks of folders with papers] What are those? Branch Rickey: Well, I'll tell you what they aren't. They aren't letters from the Jackie Robinson fa

Dialogue

Pee Wee Reese: They can say all they want. We're just here to play ball. Jackie Robinson: It's just a bunch of crackpots still fighting the Civil War. Pee Wee Reese: Well hell, we'd have won that son of a gun if the cornstalks would have held out. We just ran out of ammunition. Jackie Robinson: Better luck next time, Pee Wee. Pee Wee Reese: [Wraps his arm around Robinson, provoking though later silencing the crowd] Ain't gonna be a next time, Jackie. [Looks toward the crowd] All we got's right here. Right now. You know what I mean? Thank you, Jackie. Jackie Robinson: What are you thanking me for? Pee Wee Reese: [Signals toward the stands] I got family up there from Louisville. I need them to know. I need them to know who I am. Umpire: [Distantly] Hey, number 1! You playing ball or socializing? Pee Wee Reese: [scoffs, smiles] Playing ball, ump! [To Robinson] Playing ball. Maybe tomorrow we'll all wear 42. That way they don't tell us apart.

Dialogue

Barber: But it wasn't enough... ...as the Cardinals tied it up with two of their own in the 9th. This game is crucial to the Red Birds. They are five games out... ...with the Dodgers not having relinquished first place since June 30th. They call him "Country." Slaughter's hitless in four trips. "Fireman" Casey in his second inning of relief. This game is just as tight as a new pair of shoes on a rainy day. Casey goes into his windup. Slaughter hits a hard ground ball right at Reese, who fires it over to Jack at first. Barber: Oh, my! Robinson is down. Slaughter spiked him high up on the leg and he is down. Man 2: Goddamn it! You knew what you were doing! You spiked my guy! Get up, Jackie. Get him up, boys, get him up. Stay off it. Team doc will be out. Hugh, next guy up, you hit him right in the head. You clean his clock. Jackie Robinson: No. Get me up. Man 3: No, lay down, man. You're staying. Jackie Robinson: No. Get me up! Jackie Robinson: Just get him out. [pantiin] Just get him ou

Dialogue

Jackie Robinson: [While his leg is healing] Why'd you do this Mr. Rickey? Branch Rickey: We had a victory over fascism in Germany. It's time we had a victory over racism here. Jackie Robinson: No. Why? Why'd YOU do it? Come on. Branch Rickey: I love this game. I love baseball. Given my whole life to it. 40 odd years ago I was a player-coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. We had a Negro catcher. Best hitter on the team. Charlie Thomas. Fine young man. I saw him laid low, broken because of the color of his skin and I didn't do enough to help. Told myself I did but I didn't. There was something unfair at the heart of the game I loved and I ignored it. But a time came when I could no longer do that. You... you let me love baseball again.

Dialogue

Barber: Fritz Ostermueller on the mound. He's 12-8 on the season. A big game today in Pittsburgh. A win and the Dodgers will have clinched the National League pennant... ...Yankees having already clinched in the American League. There's bad blood here... ...as Ostermueller beaned Robinson in the head earlier in the season... ...prompting quite a rhubarb at the time. Teams have gone their separate ways since... ...with Ostermueller left standingin the Dodgers' way... ...as they chase the pennant that eluded them last year. Here comes the pitch. And Robinson takes outside. Ball one. Pittsburgh player: Come on, Fritz, let's get this boy! Fritz Ostemueller: [To Robinson] You don't belong here. And you never will. Barber: Robinson crowding the plate. Jack hasn't backed down to a pitcher all season. Man: There you go, Jackie! Dodgers player: You got nothing for him, Ostermueller! But he's got something for you! Barber: Ostermueller winds and throws. Low and away, ball two. Fritz seems to be