pharmdad2007's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at all the off the field factors and influences that Jackie Robinson and all those around him had to deal with during his first year in the major leagues. What a difficult and courageous decision for those involved. And I never realized how much Jackie held himself in check and swallowed his emotions for the good of the cause.
disasterchick's review against another edition
5.0
I finished a book about Jackie Robinson on his day by accident, but happy it worked out this way. I’ve seen 42 and even know an actor from the movie. Similar idea, but Opening Day touches on more stories than just Robinson’s. Unfortunately, his ending is sad, but this book overs a look into a man who knew he would be a legend.
rgnwlk's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
thought this would be really boring but read the second 2/3rds of it in like two days and also it made me cry a few times? I don't know what's wrong with me lol just emotional
tavarin's review against another edition
5.0
By telling the story of Jackie Robinson, Jonathan Eig is tackling a story that has been told many times through different mediums, ranging from children’s books like In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson to books like Baseball’s Great Experiment and films like The Jackie Robinson Story. This can be very daunting in the 21st century, as most readers will know so much about Robinson that it is important for the writer to try and dig even further into the story of the 1947 season.
In his second book, Eig does a great job combining primary sources and oral histories while also presenting his own interpretations of events. Eig also does good work examining apocryphal stories, like Pee Wee Reese putting his arm around Robinson in Cincinnati during the 1947 season, pouring through game stories not only to find out that there wasn’t any coverage of the event in 1947, but also to provide an alternate idea of when this story actually took place.
By not only examining the events on the baseball diamond, but also the stories of people living at the time and how the integration of Major League Baseball affected people, Eig is expanding the story of the 1947 season beyond just Jackie Robinson. And by looking at the 1947 season through the point of view of people ranging from Mike Royko to Malcolm X, the readers are truly able to understand the effect of Robinson on all of society, instead of just focusing on his impact on baseball.
In his second book, Eig does a great job combining primary sources and oral histories while also presenting his own interpretations of events. Eig also does good work examining apocryphal stories, like Pee Wee Reese putting his arm around Robinson in Cincinnati during the 1947 season, pouring through game stories not only to find out that there wasn’t any coverage of the event in 1947, but also to provide an alternate idea of when this story actually took place.
By not only examining the events on the baseball diamond, but also the stories of people living at the time and how the integration of Major League Baseball affected people, Eig is expanding the story of the 1947 season beyond just Jackie Robinson. And by looking at the 1947 season through the point of view of people ranging from Mike Royko to Malcolm X, the readers are truly able to understand the effect of Robinson on all of society, instead of just focusing on his impact on baseball.
mmz's review against another edition
5.0
The title of this book is wonderfully accurate. It really is the story of the entire season, and not just the baseball parts (although baseball fans won't be disappointed in the description of plays and pitches). But it is much more than a play-by-play of every game the Dodgers played in 1947; Eig paints a picture of the entire season and how it resonated throughout the country.
Eig's writing is so vivid, you can feel the emotion as Jackie walks into the clubhouse for the first time, as he takes the plate for the first time, as he faces both cruelty and kindness in cities and ballparks across the Major Leagues. He gives us profiles of people who were affected by Robinson's barrier-breaking, including author Robert B. Parker, civil rights leader Malcolm X, and future governor of Virginia Douglas Wilder. Although some of these profiles go on a bit too long, they contribute a lot to the sense of change that was in atmosphere in 1947.
Eig doesn't exactly soft-pedal the negative reactions from both within and without baseball that arose as a result of integration, but in some ways, he down-plays it a little bit. Some of Jackie's fellow Dodgers were opposed on principle to playing with a black man, but when he joined the team, they realized he was an ok guy and that integration probably wouldn't actually bring about the end of civilization as we know it. Somehow I don't think it was that easy.
Eig's writing is so vivid, you can feel the emotion as Jackie walks into the clubhouse for the first time, as he takes the plate for the first time, as he faces both cruelty and kindness in cities and ballparks across the Major Leagues. He gives us profiles of people who were affected by Robinson's barrier-breaking, including author Robert B. Parker, civil rights leader Malcolm X, and future governor of Virginia Douglas Wilder. Although some of these profiles go on a bit too long, they contribute a lot to the sense of change that was in atmosphere in 1947.
Eig doesn't exactly soft-pedal the negative reactions from both within and without baseball that arose as a result of integration, but in some ways, he down-plays it a little bit. Some of Jackie's fellow Dodgers were opposed on principle to playing with a black man, but when he joined the team, they realized he was an ok guy and that integration probably wouldn't actually bring about the end of civilization as we know it. Somehow I don't think it was that easy.
notrachel's review against another edition
2.0
The best of this book was the epilogue. The chapters were all a little scattered: the subject of the paragraph would change halfway through. I am appreciative of the effort in getting the story told though. Being a lover of baseball and its history, I would give this book another half-star if possible.
charle's review against another edition
4.0
Very good - author did lots of research and interviewed Jackie Robinons's wife and some friends to write this story. I liked it a lot since it combined baseball with social justice. I felt the author gave you detailed descriptions of characters and events so you could know the characters involved in the story and feel you were there at the event in the time and place. I would say you 'd have to like baseball - lots of detail of games and plays, but he moved the story along well. He really gave you a sense of the racial issues black people dealt with at that time - good source of our history.
kpmav9's review against another edition
3.0
Many interesting points and perspectives for someone like myself who didn't grow up in the era. Dragged a little at points but I am still glad I read it.
tehjessicarae's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it was very enlightening in portraying Jackie Robinson's first season with the Dodgers. Jonathan Eig was very careful with his sources and it showed. After reading I felt like I had a better idea of what Robinson's life was like and everything he had to go to and how he changed baseball for the better. A definite must for baseball fans and anyone who wants to learn more about Jackie Robinson and some of the history of baseball in general.