Perspectives 

Many fans cheered for Robinson, and plenty of kids asked for autographs, though behind his smile he simply wished to be treated like any other rookie. This perspective shows how crowds reacted differently than expected. Instead of ignoring him, fans welcomed him warmly. Rodney’s description reveals excitement not only from Dodgers fans but even from the opposing team’s supporters. Although nervous, Jackie was ready and determined to show what he and other African American players were capable of. His debut illustrated both the pressure he faced and the hope he inspired. “After chatting with Jackie on the field the first day he was in a Dodger uniform and becoming overwhelmed with the feeling of pressure and tension thrown fully upon his broad shoulders by the spotlight of publicity, the scrambling photographers oblivious of all else, even the kids pushing for autographs at his every move, it took no remarkable perception to know that beneath Jackie’s smile was at least a little wish to be let alone and treated just like any other rookie, on his merit” (Rodney).

Jackie’s presence brought enormous attention to the Dodgers. Out of the 25,000 fans attending his first game, about 14,000 were African American—far more than the usual 3,000 who typically attended MLB games. Robinson attracted new fans who had never watched baseball before, and his popularity quickly turned him into the biggest drawing figure in the sport since Babe Ruth. This demonstrates both his immediate impact on the MLB and the pride he inspired within African American communities. His popularity helped drive attendance, income, and national interest in baseball. “At the time, this unprecedented fan interest in the Dodgers was largely attributed to Jackie Robinson’s remarkable drawing power in his rookie year. Informed contemporary observers repeatedly affirmed Robinson’s ability to turn out crowds and attract a new audience. At the Ebbets Field season opener it was estimated that 14,000 fans—more than half the attendance that day—were black. Assessing Robinson’s career, Dodgers publicist Arthur Mann declared that his “status is beyond evaluation as [the] greatest box-office draw since Babe Ruth,” (Pastier).