Good morning, all. I hope your week is off to a terrific start.
Monday was Jackie Robinson Day across baseball. On April 15, 1947 Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers beat the Boston Braves that day, 5-3, in front of 26,623. The game was not a sellout. For the record, the Yankees were staging their opener at Yankee Stadium, losing to the Philadelphia Athletics, 6-1, in front of 39,344.
Robinson started at first base and went 0-for-3, but had 11 putouts. Joe Hatten started for the Dodgers but was not the winning pitcher. He was the pitcher who delivered the pitch to Joe DiMaggio in the sixth game of the World Series that season that was caught by Al Gionfriddo in left field and was part of Barber’s famous call, describing the catch: “Back! Back! Back! Back! Back! ….Oh Doctor!” The Dodgers won that day, 8-6, but lost the deciding Game 7 the next afternoon.
There have been many books about Robinson, but probably the best book I have read about that historic season was written by broadcaster Red Barber; 1947: When All Hell Broke Lose In Baseball. The legendary Barber had a front row seat that season, broadcasting games for the Dodgers. Barber brought an interesting perspective, having grown up in the segregated south. That is why, as he wrote in the book, Dodgers GM Branch Rickey sat down with him to explain why he was integrating the game and why Robinson was his choice to make it happen.
Coincidentally, in 1979 I interviewed Barber, but not about Robinson. It was the anniversary of the first televised game and Ebbets Field provided the backdrop. We talked about that game, rivalries and a couple of other game-related topics. Enjoy!
Is it time for Tiger to retire?
Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of his time and arguably the greatest of all time. At 48 years of age is it time for Woods to hang it up? Woods set the record for making the most cuts in the Masters Tournament, after surviving cutdown day following round two. His last two rounds, however, were not good. Woods shot, for him, a record-high 82 on Saturday and a 77 on Sunday, finishing last in the tournament. It was obvious he was in pain as he played his rounds.
Woods has not been the golfer he once was, before his near fatal accident in 2021. Age, of course, would have diminished his game, anyway, but there is no question the accident has curtailed his golfing skills, maybe forever. Woods even admitted at a media conference last week that he is in pain all the time.
Woods has plenty to offer to the game as an ambassador and two years from now, he will be eligible for the Champions Tour, where he can use a cart. He may be too “proud” to ride, but I would venture his legions of fans - of which I am one - would be more than willing to watch Tiger compete, while using a cart.
Watching Woods struggle at Augusta is not how he should be remembered. It would not shock me if we see little of Tiger playing competitive golf over the next two years. Here is hoping that we see plenty of Woods contributing to the many other facets of the game.
That is going to do it for this week’s newsletter. As always, thank you for your support and have a terrific week!
DAN LOVALLO