A Kid’s Turn At Bat:
Dan Meets Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers (Photo by Bob Sandberg)
On March 20th, 1949, 10-year-old Dan got the chance to see his hero Jackie Robinson play baseball. Five years later, Jackie Robinson himself gave Dan words of wisdom that changed his whole life!
In this episode, you’ll meet a real kid whose journey in sports started when he became a Jackie Robinson fan in the 1940s. Along the way, you’ll hear Dan’s story in his own words, using real audio clips from his firsthand account. You’ll also learn more about the history behind the integration of professional baseball!
You can also listen on your favorite listening app:
Hi! I’m Lorraine, creator and co-host of History’s Kids. I first heard about Dan’s story when reading articles about Jackie Robinson in the Palm Beach Post. A journalist named Tom D'Angelo had written about Dan and the game he attended in 1949. I wrote to Tom to see if he could put me in touch with Dan - and he did!
Before interviewing Dan, I read lots of information about the integration of professional baseball. Some of the resources I read are listed below - you might find them interesting, too!
I also read more about Dan in a book he wrote. When someone writes about their own life, that’s called an autobiography. Dan’s autobiography included memories from his childhood. This helped me fill in more details about what it was like for Dan to grow up in Florida in the 1940s. Maybe someday YOU will write a book about what it was like to grow up in the 2020s!
How We Researched Today’s Episode
Learn More About the Integration of Professional Baseball ⚾️
Videos: Sharon Robinson Answers Your Questions (Jackie Robinson Museum)
Article: A Legend (Time for Kids)
Article: Palm Beach County sports 50 historic moments: Kids paid 50 cents to see Jackie Robinson play in West Palm Beach (Palm Beach Post)
Collection: Baseball, the Color Line, and Jackie Robinson (Library of Congress)
There are always more resources available at your school or local library!
If You Liked This Episode… Check Out These Books! 📚
We hope every episode of History’s Kids will be a jumping-off point for learning. Find these books in your school or local library for more on Jackie Robinson and the integration of professional baseball!
Classroom Resources 🎒
The handouts below can be paired with this or any episode to engage students as they reflect on what they’ve learned, share their learning with others, and even research the stories of other “History’s Kids” who are now adults in their lives.
Hear/Think/Wonder
Listen & Jot
Make Your Own
Timeline
Interview a
“History’s Kid” In Your Life
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Click here for a full transcript of this episode. Kids can read along as they listen!
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Hosted By: Lorraine Leddy & James Brown Jr.
Music: Pure Color / Frank Jonsson / Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Audio Editing & Sound Design: Ben Kammer
Cover Art: Tom Deja / Bossman Graphics
Directed By: Barrett Leddy
Special Thanks: Dan Calloway
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Season one of History’s Kids is made possible through the generous support of our listeners. This episode is brought to you by Rachael Eidson, Peter Saxe, Erin Miller, and the 6th Grade Students at O'Donnell Elementary School. You can join in the fun by supporting the show on Patreon today!