Blog / Author: Joe Mock

On April 18, 1946, Jackie Robinson played his first game in “white” baseball. Branch Rickey’s plan was for Robinson to play a year in the Minors, then make his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, thereby breaking the color barrier.

The Dodgers’ top farm team was the Montreal Royals, so that’s where Rickey assigned Robinson out of spring training in 1946. Opening Day found Montreal at Jersey City, and Jackie was in the starting lineup.

This winter, I spent a lot of time putting together an article about the events of this game and their aftermath. I think you’ll find it to be a compelling story, especially on its 75th anniversary. I’m grateful to the Dodgers for agreeing to post it on their Dodger Insider blog site. They’re also including it in the print magazine they publish.

Please take a few minutes and read the story of A Handshake For The Century.

There’s never been a relationship between a Major League team and its spring training home like the one between the Dodgers and Vero Beach. For 61 springs, first the Brooklyn Dodgers and then the Los Angeles Dodgers called Dodgertown home.

In the years since the Dodgers moved their springtime operations to Arizona, the historic complex has been managed by several entities. Today, it’s run by Major League Baseball, which changed the name “Historic Dodgertown” to “The Jackie Robinson Training Complex.”

Check out our look back at what made this sprawling facility so endearing — and how it’s being used now.

This is one book that will give you a LOT to think about!

First is an examination of what’s wrong with the sport of Baseball, and just as importantly, how it can be fixed.

Once you’re done reading that, you flip the book over and there’s a complete second book! This second part is a walk through Baseball history, featuring a countdown of the biggest, most-dramatic finishes in the history of the game … Carlton Fisk’s home run in the 1975 World Series … Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard ’round the world” … David Freese’s heroics in the 2011 Fall Classic (this one still galls me as a Rangers fan) … and the immortal 1988 home run by Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the World Series.

Lots of great reading in this “flip book!” Plus, it’s autographed by author Howard Peretz, known far and wide as the Old School Sports Junkie. Just $14.95 plus shipping, it makes a great gift, but you’ll love reading it yourself!

The good news is that Spring Training 2021 is indeed upon us. The iffy news is that your experience at the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues this spring will be unlike in past years.

We’ve broken down what you need to know (five-inning games anyone?). The bottom line is to expect the unexpected!

Check out our question-and-answer format so you’ll be aware of this year’s changes.

Even though it was anything BUT a normal season in 2020, we’re still bringing you our annual look at ballparks that made news during the year.

From the Blue Jays making do with a Minor League park to the first game when fans were allowed to attend, it was a fascinating year. Check out our photographic look at 2020!