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Branch Rickey Audiobook
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(3.50) - 4 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The idea of integrating baseball began as a dream in the mind of Branch Rickey. In 1947, as president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, he defied racism on and off the field to bring Jackie Robinson into the major leagues, changing the sport and the nation forever. Rickey's is the classic American tale of a poor boy from Ohio whose deep-seated faith and dogged work ethic took him to the pinnacle of success, earning him a place in the Hall of Fame and in history.
Bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Jimmy Breslin is a legend in his own right. In his inimitable anecdotal style, he provides a lively portrait of Rickey and his times, including such colorful characters as Dodgers' owner George V. McLaughlin (dubbed "George the Fifth" for his love of Scotch); diamond greats Leo Durocher, George Sisler, and Dizzy Dean; and Robinson himself, a man whose remarkable talent was equaled only by his resilience in the face of intolerance. Breslin brings to life the heady days when baseball emerged as the national pastime in this inspiring biography of a great American who remade a sport—and dreamed of remaking a country.
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"A lively, charming biography of the man who desegregated baseball told by a rascal of an author. I enjoyed the way he ties Jackie Robinson to Barack Obama with deft storytelling. A delightful little volume that every fan (of baseball or civil rights) should read. "
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Breslin's gift for easy-to-read yet hard-hitting prose will touch even those who aren't baseball fans.
— Publishers Weekly -
“What Breslin has done, with his usual gritty perception, is revive a story of enormous consequence.”
— New York Times -
“Insightful, humorous, and biting at times.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“This is a wonderful book, bringing new life to a much-told story.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Breslin’s gift for easy-to-read yet hard-hitting prose will touch even those who aren’t baseball fans.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Dick Hill delivers a gritty, enthusiastic account…Breslin culls the important nuggets from Rickey’s life, and Hill shapes them. Together they craft the story of one of baseball’s vanguards.”
— AudioFile -
“Quirky, idiosyncratic, oddly balanced and surpassingly entertaining.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Branch Rickey Listener Reviews
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" Interesting story about Branch Rickey, the man who integrated baseball. Some parts of the book became confusing due to author intrusion. "
— Michael, 5/7/2011
About Jimmy Breslin
Jimmy Breslin was born in Jamaica, Queens. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary in 1986. His critically acclaimed books include The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?, The Short Sweet Dream of Eduardo Guiterrez, several anthologies, and a memoir. He lives on Broadway, the Big Street, in New York City.
About Dick Hill
Dick Hill, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, is one of the most awarded narrators in the business, having earned several Audie Awards and thirty-four AudioFile Earphones Awards. In addition to narrating, he has both acted in and written for the theater.