As the first African American player in major league baseball, Jackie Robinson had the eyes of the nation upon him. The pressure was incredible; not only did he constantly face prejudice-from ignorant fans, malicious players, and even bigoted sportswriters-but he also carried the hopes and expectations of all those who were rooting for him. Most mortals would have been crushed, but Jackie Robinson was no ordinary man. Maintaining both his dignity and calm while under attack, Robinson handled the stress heroically and delivered top-notch performance. His first year he batted .297, was chosen to be Rookie of the Year, and two years later, he was voted the league's MVP.

Not surprisingly, there has been plenty of media coverage on such an iconic and groundbreaking player, but in "Jackie Robinson: My Own Story," Robinson's experiences both on and off the field are presented in his own words. This account (as told to the veteran sports writer Wendell Smith) was written soon after Robinson's first year in the majors. It helps us understand the forces that influenced this much admired superstar as well as gives us insight into what it was like to live and perform under unfathomable pressure.

Jackie Robinson has left an indelible mark on baseball history. In fact, his jersey, number 42, is the only number to be retired for all teams in the majors. For any baseball fan interested in one of the game's true greats, both on the field and off, "Jackie Robinson: My Own Story" is an engaging must-read.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

When Major League Baseball first expanded in 1961 with the addition of the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, it started a trend that saw the number of franchises almost double, from sixteen to thirty, while baseball attendance grew by 44 percent. The story behind this staggering growth, told for the first time in Baseball's New Frontier, is full of twists and unexpected turns, intrigue, and, in some instances, treachery. From the desertion of New York by the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants to the ever-present threat of antitrust legislation, from the backroom deals and the political posturing to the impact of the upstart Continental League, the book takes readers behind the scenes and into baseball's decision-making process. Fran Zimniuch gives a lively team-by-team chronicle of how the franchises were awarded, how existing teams protected their players, and what the new teams' winning (or losing) strategies were. With its account of great players, notable characters, and the changing fortunes of teams over the years, the book supplies a vital chapter in the history of Major League Baseball.