His first major league game was uneventful. While he did hit the ball hard, he grounded out each time and ended the game hitless. Critics saw this as validation that he lacked the necessary talent to play with white players.
However, Jackie was undeniably affected by the microscopic analysis of his every move. Coupled with racial taunts from the stands, Jackie began doubting his own ability to successfully handle all the pressures.
Jackie's first hit, a bunt single, came in his second game and his first homerun came in game three. Jackie went on to hit .297 and lead the league in stolen bases with 29. The Dodgers won the league pennant but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees. Jackie was named Rookie of the Year.
Jackie's sophomore season, 1948, started rather slowly and did not come to life until the middle of the season. He was relocated from first base to second base and paired with Pee Wee Reese at shortstop to create a dynamite defensive team up the middle.Roy Campanella was the second black player to join the Dodger team that year. His addition to the team was significant because it diluted the public focus on Jackie and they provided support and experiential understanding for each other.
Despite his slow start, Jackie ended the season leading the team in hitting with a .296 average; he had 12 home runs and 85 runs batted in. However, the Dodgers finished in third place.
Jackie's most controversial period began in his third season. Jackie was no longer bound by his two year commitment to silence and passive resistance. He began the season by challenging other teams to play him rough as he intended to play them rough. Jackie was reprimanded because this was interpreted as a veiled threat that could insight racial trouble.
Jackie took every opportunity to express his political and
social views and was even invited to testify before the House Un-American
Activities Committee in July of 1949. He was testifying in response to
statements made by renowned actor, Paul Robeson denouncing blacks fighting for
the U.S. against the Soviet Union. Jackie's statement not only reaffirmed his
commitment to American ideals, he also made it clear he would continue to fight
against racial discrimination in the U.S.
The 1949 season was also Jackie's best professionally. He led the league
offensively with a .342 batting average, and 37 stolen bases and defensively for
turning the most number of double plays. He was named the National League's Most
Valuable Player and with a new contract, his salary was increased to $35,000.
The Dodgers won the National League pennant but again lost the World Series to
the New York Yankees. In 1952, the Dodgers won the National League pennant but again lost the World
Series to the New York Yankees. Jackie's batting average was disappointing,
plummeting below .200 for the series. He was also losing the public relations
battle in the press. Jackie's outspokenness was constantly compared to
Campanella's more reserved and reclusive style, but Jackie was undeterred.
The Dodgers won the National League Pennant in 1953 and again lost the World
Series to the New York Yankees. Jackie's performance on the field that season
was impressive: he had a batting average of .329 and scored over 109 runs during
the season; he had a .320 average during the playoffs. The significant event of the 1954 season was Jackie's public ridicule of new
manager, Walter Alston. Jackie was angered because Alston did not support him
when he challenged an umpire's call. In his anger, Jackie referred to Alston as
"a wooden Indian." Alston retaliated by benching Jackie more
frequently. The team ended the season in second place.
With a cadre of young pitchers and hitters, the 1955 Dodgers finished the
season 13 1/2 games in first place. Jackie continued to be more frequently
benched in favor of the younger talents. He ended the season hitting only .256,
the lowest in his career. However during the World Series against the Yankees,
Jackie showed some sign of his former self.
In the first game of the series, top of the eighth inning, the Yankees were
leading 6-4 and Robinson was on third base with two batters out. Because of his
reported slower running speed, neither the pitcher nor the catcher thought him a
running threat. Jackie used the element of surprise and stole home. The Championship win should have capped Jackie's career but he returned for
the 1956 season. At 37 he was physically worn and was benched more and more. The
newspapers continued their speculation about his retirement and Jackie also
began making plans to retire.
The Dodger organization was planning radical changes as well. First, they
announced that Ebbets Field was up for sale and the team was relocating to Los
Angeles. They also announced that Jackie Robinson was being traded to their arch
National League rival, the New York Giants. Even though he was offered $60,000
by the Giants, Jackie retired from baseball in January 1957.