[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BROOKLYN DODGERS FAN CLUB HAILS JACKIE ROBINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 1997

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I recently joined all of my colleagues from 
Brooklyn to introduce legislation that will salute the historic 
achievements of Jackie Robinson by awarding him a congressional medal 
of honor. As you know, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Robinson 
breaking baseball's color barrier. I believe that the following 
statement made by Dr. Ronald L. Gabriel, founder and president of the 
Brooklyn Dodgers Fan Club, provides a fitting testimonial to the 
achievements of one of America's true heroes:

       This month we celebrate the 50th anniversary of what may 
     well be the most underrecognized achievement in this Nation's 
     history. It occurred at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, on April 
     15, 1947. Jackie Robinson, carefully selected by Brooklyn 
     Dodgers President Branch Rickey to become this social 
     pioneer, broke baseball's color barrier.
       And what he did, and how he did it, would impact millions 
     of lives--individually and collectively--throughout our 
     society. For challenging the caste system in baseball 
     compelled millions of decent Americans to confront the 
     reality of racial prejudice heretofore ignored. Yes, the 
     consequences of what Robinson and Rickey achieved spread far 
     beyond baseball, beyond sports, and beyond politics--going to 
     the very core and substance of our culture.
       Baseball had been called the national pastime for decades--
     but until Jack Roosevelt Robinson came along, it was not 
     truly a national game. In 1947, the entire borough of 
     Brooklyn was to play a part in this unfolding drama. Or, as 
     Roger Kahn said ``up to then, everything was white, and only 
     the grass was green.''
       Much like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson also 
     had a dream--and he expressed it so eloquently in his final 
     public appearance at the 1972 World Series--namely, that one 
     day minorities will stand side by side, along with whites, 
     not only on the playing fields of America, but also on the 
     third base coaching lines, in the managerial ranks, and even 
     among the executives and ownership of our biggest and most 
     productive organizations.
       So let us here, highly resolve, that Jack Roosevelt 
     Robinson did not live or die in vain--and that his dream 
     shall be carried out throughout our great Nation--because it 
     is right.

  I urge my colleagues to commemorate the achievements of Jackie 
Robinson by cosponsoring H.R. 1335 to support the award of a 
Congressional Gold Medal in his honor.

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