April 15th marked the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson playing his first Major League Baseball game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was a milestone for integrating the sport. It was a time when working and middle-class men and woman of all ages, classes, races and religions commingled in the stands rooting for Jackie Robinson and his teammates regardless of ethnic origin game after game.

Ordinary Brooklyn natives could ride the bus, trolley or subway to Ebbets Field to see their beloved Dodgers. Everyone could afford a bleacher, general admission, reserve or box seat. Hot dogs, beer, other refreshments and souvenirs were reasonably priced.

Just as Jackie Robinson fought racism in the 1950s, the Detroit Tigers’ Hank Greenberg had to do the same with antisemitism in his time. Robinson and Greenberg both document the long-lasting relationship between African-Americans and Jewish sports fans standing together for decades in support of each other.

Larry Penner
Great Neck