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I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson Paperback – May 6, 2003

by Jackie Robinson (Author), Alfred Duckett

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The bestselling autobiography of American baseball and civil rights legend Jackie Robinson

Before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.

I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment"—Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.

More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.

I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ecco
Publication date

May 6, 2003
Dimensions

7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
ISBN-10

0060555971
ISBN-13

978-0060555979
Lexile measure

1130L
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Autobiography of a Boy of Summer Who Became a Man for All Seasons

Before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.

I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment"—Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.

More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.

Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.

About the Author

Jackie Robinson shared the turbulent and triumphant story of his life with freelance writer Alfred Duckett, who contributed to the powerful speeches and sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Co-author of I Never Had it Made, Alfred Duckett assisted Jackie Robinson in writing a newspaper column, and had an important role working on the speeches and sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ecco; Edition Unstated (May 6, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060555971
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060555979
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1130L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #51,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #37 in Baseball Biographies (Books)
- #97 in Baseball (Books)
- #198 in Black & African American Biographies

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4.5 out of 5

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Tom

Highly Recommended

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016

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There have been a number of instances in which I have found autobiographies to come across as rather disjointed, varying in tone by page and by chapter, particularly when it comes to those co-authored by individuals who are not themselves subjects of the stories within. To what extent this is the result of editorializing or revisionism on the part of either subject or co-author, I never know for certain. With "I Never Had It Made," I felt that, while I could not personally discern any significant difference between the flesh and blood individual and the form apparent in the written word from any first- or second-hand experience (being born 15 years after his passing and all), I suspected this to be a natural extension of Jackie Robinson's persona. As a ballplayer, Jackie endured countless threats, taunts, and much worse, for the sake of Branch Rickey's "noble experiment." As a man, Jackie is incredible effusive when it comes to his on-the-field achievements as member of a World Series-winning Brooklyn Dodgers team and well-deserving inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you are looking for the story of Jackie Robinson's life, i.e. the chronology of events from birth to baseball, success and fame, to activist and icon status, well, this is probably not that book. What is perhaps most striking, in my opinion, is the manner in which the tone shifts repeatedly from Jackie's humble perspective as a son/husband/father/soldier/ballplayer/businessman/activist, deflecting praise for achievements that seem to have come about as a natural extension of his determination and effort to prove himself worthy in seemingly every personal endeavor, to his stream-of-consciousness sort of reflections on the choices (and admitted mistakes) he made, often against the will of the pigheaded masses, or those closest to him. What comes through most in this book is evidently Jackie's voice. While Jackie does not sugar-coat things, he does not tend to dwell on past transgressions against him. While he does not proclaim justice to have been faithfully served in his lifetime, nor wildly optimistic sentiments about the likelihood that it shall have come to be upheld in his children's, he consistently emphasizes the beliefs and values that have guided him throughout a life that, although extraordinary in its accomplishments, is remarkably ordinary in its narrative of struggle and overcoming of one's obstacles. That is not to detract from the transcendent stature of Jackie Robinson's legacy, which he earned in spite of 'never having it made.' Rather, in much the same way he enlightens readers to the differences of opinion he had with the likes of Dr. King and Malcolm X, or common ground he shared with Nixon and Rockefeller, Jackie does not shy away from contradiction, and embodies the message of Matthew 5:14 ("You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.") that has so frequently been misappropriated by politicians and evangelists. If Jackie Robinson is to be considered a shining example of American ideals (and I firmly believe that he is), a flawed but beautiful fusion of both conservative and liberal values that seems particularly poignant these days, then I believe that this book should be as widely shared and read as humanly possible.

4 people found this helpful

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Robert May

He proved to be the perfect person to ignore the efforts of bigoted white players ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2016

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You have to read this book with your brain engaged.

Jackie Robinson was not just another jock. This was an amazingly gifted athlete who had brains.

He broke the racial barrier and became the first black player in major league baseball. He proved to be the perfect person to ignore the efforts of bigoted white players who tried to physically injure him during baseball games.

When he first started playing, the other players on the team weren't quite sure to deal with him. But when other teams began throwing racial slurs against him, his teammates quickly rallied around him and came to his defense. From that point on he was one with them, just another player on the team.

He also had large amounts of class.

Most notably he worked to advance rights for black people.

I came away thoroughly impressed with Jackie Robinson AND this book by and about him.

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LSmith

Very good autobiography

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013

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Rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:
Jackie Robinson is one of the few athletes whose importance and popularity transcended sports. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent autobiography on his life, his outspoken views on the state of civil rights for black people during his life and oh, yes, a little bit about his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers as well.

Most people know of his accomplishments on the baseball field and what he had to endure during his early years with the Dodgers, even those who are not sports fans. However, it might not be known to most readers that Robinson was also active in politics for the Republican Party. Given the history of the relationship between civil rights leaders and the GOP, that might come as a surprise, but Robinson does a good job of explaining why he did so and what the eventual outcome would be.
Robinson pulls no punches in this book.

Whether it is about race relations in society, the military or baseball, or his relationships with first Branch Rickey and then Walter O'Malley, or the tender passages written about his wife Rachel and their three children, the reader will know without a doubt how Robinson feels about that topic.

By writing his true feelings and not sugar-coating it or making it more palatable for those who might not be comfortable with such frankness, I thought that every subject he wrote about was told in a much better way. The reader learns about the topic, gets Robinson's perspective, and can then make up his or her own mind.

The baseball sections of the book are very good as well. There isn't much description of on-field action or statistical analysis, however. This is written from a player's point of view and the views expressed are just as much about the business and the social life on the field as well as hits and runs. It was just enough to satiate the sports fan in me, but because this book is so much more than just a sports book, it should be read with the objective of learning about other topics as well.

This book certainly will teach the reader a lot about that era in American history and a lot about Jackie Robinson, the man. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent book that many readers should pick up and enjoy.

Did I skim?
No.

Did I learn something new?
Yes, a lot. Because Robinson recounted so many of his experiences in great detail, I learned so much about his convictions on race relations and civil rights. I did have a casual understanding of his off-field life and activities, but I did not realize how involved he was with the civil rights movement and politics.

Pace of the book:
Fairly slow, but in a good way. For a reader like me who wanted to learn so much more about the man, it was helpful to read the book slowly.

Positives:
There were so many in this book that it would be hard to list them all. However, I believe they can all be covered by just stating that was a very outspoken man and this book reflects that trait.

Negatives:
While this isn't a negative for me, some readers might not be comfortable reading about Robinson's candor on the controversial issues of his day. There were two notable problems in the editing of the e-book version. One was that a period was inserted prior to each use of the word "other." The .other (intended to show that edit) was that when the World Series was discussed, the phrase was not capitalized as it is elsewhere.

Do I recommend?
Yes. Going well beyond sports and baseball, this book is a good source of information on issues concerning race relations and some events of the turbulent 1960's. Whether the reader likes baseball, politics, history or biographies, this book is an excellent read for anybody who enjoys these topics.

7 people found this helpful

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Ernest Boehm

More than a story of a Baseball player

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2000

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Jakie Robinson was a man among men. His example shows the ubsurdity of judging a man by the color of his skin. His life was a struggle and this book goes into great personal trials of the man. The book is more about Jackie's family and professional life after baseball than baseball. Yet this does not distract the reader this adds to the story of a honest, passionate and intellegent man. His autobiography with personal honesty goes into Robison's strengths and weaknesses.
The story of Robinson and Branch Ricky is well detailed. It may be the greatest story that ever happend in baseball. If you want to read a book that tells a great baseball story than read this. If you want to read a story of a man whose courage has been rarly equaled than read this book. Jackie Robinson was more than the first black man to play baseball, he was a man who refused to be ashamed of who he was, a great man.

14 people found this helpful

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Earlyworcester

Great book.

Reviewed in Australia on September 4, 2020

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Perfect for baseball fans!

Simon Larocque

Commentaire d'un francophone!

Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2015

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Ce livre est excellent! Il est divisé en deux partie; soit sa vie sportive et sa vie après sa carrière. J'ai frissonné à maintes reprises en lisant ce livre tant les événements qu'il a vécu sont incroyables et oh combien biens écrits. J'aime bien le fait qu'il reconnaisse ces erreurs après réflexion et qu'il donne ses propres opinions sur certaines personnes très influentes telles Malcolm X et JFK pour ne nommer qu'eux. De plus, je suis québécois et, l'anglais n'étant pas langue natale et loin d'être bilingue, je n'aie eu aucune difficulté à le lire en anglais.

Je le recommande fortement pour un lecteur de Biographie ou simplement un fan de sport!

Simon

3 people found this helpful

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映画「42世界を変えた男」に啓発されて読んだ。引退後の公民権運動を興味深く読んだ

Reviewed in Japan on July 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

　ジャッキー・ロビンソンの事は小学生の頃から、初めての黒人大リーガー、ということで話や写真で知ってはいた。その頃の懐かしい思いと共にジャッキー・ロビンソンの映画、「42〜世界を変えた男」映画を見て、そう言えばあの頃はまだ黒人差別があからさまに行われている時代だった、ということも思いだした。

　さて、この本である。前半はジャッキー・ロビンソンの野球選手時代の話で、その内の半分くらいが映画で語られた部分であった。ということは、ジャッキー・ロビンソンは単なる野球選手で終わらず、人生の後半以上の部分を公民権運動に費やしていた、という事なのである。このことは、私に取っては新しい知識だった。

　ジャッキー・ロビンソンがブルックリン・ドジャースに加入するまでの経緯や、差別を受けながら、そして白人達の罵声をうけながらもメジャー・リーグで活躍する様は、爽快で小気味よいし、分かりやすい。

　後半は、ジャッキー・ロビンソンが野球選手を引退してから、公民権運動に誘われて活躍する話が中心となる。興味を引いたのは、ジャッキー・ロビンソンが黒人の活動家、Paul Robesonについて非米活動委員会で証言した事である。委員会は、共産主義者にして反米活動家であるPaul Robesonの行為を、同じ黒人として高名なジャッキー・ロビンソンの証言によって批難しようとしたのだった。ジャッキー・ロビンソンは悩みながらもPaul Robesonの活動に賛同しない旨を証言した。それは、共産主義者が人種差別主義者を批難するのは人道的な根拠ではなく、そうする方が共産主義の拡大に取って有利だからだ、との洞察による。

　続けてジャッキー・ロビンソンはこうも言う、「But that doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop fighting race discrimination in this country until we’ve got it licked. It means that we’re going to fight it all the harder because our stake in the future is so big. We can win our fight without the Communist and we don’t want their help.」

　公民権運動にも関心があったので、後半部分も興味深く読んだが、いかんせん登場人物やアメリカの出来事に通暁していなかったので読みにくかった事は事実である。例えば、Paul Robesonについてはインターネットで調べて当時の状況を知る事が出来たが、手間と時間が必要だった。その他、ジャッキー・ロビンソンの家庭の問題などはあまり興味なかったので飛ばし読みした。

　それでも五つ星を付けたのは、ジャッキー・ロビンソンが当時の黒人の地位を向上させ、公民権運動に貢献し、更に現在のアメリカ（未だ人種差別が根絶されたとは言いがたいものの少なくなった）の礎となったからである。

3 people found this helpful

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a.

Great book.

Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2020

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It's the biography to read about Jackie Robinson.

澤田達男

It is too political for Japanese.

Reviewed in Japan on December 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

Japanese people want to read more story about baseball.

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