He opened the doors...to what baseball would be...
he ignored all the jeers and the shouts...
he knew exactly what baseball should be...
as Jackie removed every doubt.
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson...was a husband...a father...and a man...
who played second base for the Dodgers...back when it all began.
He led the league in batting...in '49...he was MVP.
He played 10 years for the Dodgers...
and he was more than they hoped he would be.
He took the Dodgers to the Series...six times while he was alive...
and he helped them to win it all...back in 1955.
They called him "The Great Experiment"...
when Branch Rickey brought him
through...
and he was named to the Hall of Fame...back in 1962.
Jackie was one of the best...as his legend will certainly show...
he opened the doors for all of sports...with a smile he let them all know...
that each of us has his way...to give back for all we get...
and he gave the world such a gift...that today we are feeling it yet.
Jackie changed the world...and someday we may see...
a time when color won't count...and maybe by then we can be...
the kind of people who care...only about what you are...
this planet really could be wonderful...if we could just follow his star...
and someday see what he saw...as he looked out into the stands...
and ignored all the boos from the ignorant...
as he quickly changed most of them into fans.
Fans who only asked...just play the best you can...
play the game the way you should...because color doesn't make the man.
Jackie...you made baseball better...than it ever had been before...
as evidenced by the wonderful athletes...
who followed you through that door.
You hit...and you ran...to the Hall of Fame...
and controversy never could make you stall...
you hurdled every obstacle with style and class...
and left such a legacy for us all.
And even though God took you home...back in 1972...
the work you started still goes on...
continued by others like you.
So...here's to you...Mr. Robinson...
thanks for a lifetime of thrills...
there has never been anyone like you...
and very simply...there never will be.
So because of one brave man...
the world will never be the same...
and maybe someday...color really won't matter...
and finally...we can just play the game.
copyright 1997 skybird publishing company
james bruce joseph sievers
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