Jackie Robinson, who 60 years ago last Sunday became the first African-American to play major league baseball, was also involved in the first baseball game in Chattanooga in which blacks and whites competed against each other.
On Sunday, April 6, 1952, his Brooklyn Dodgers played an exhibition at Engel Stadium against the Boston Braves while both teams were heading back home following spring training in Florida.
These were the same teams that had played in 1947 when Robinson broke the color barrier.
In promoting the game, the Chattanooga Times was aware of the historic significance and believed the only other inter-racial sporting event of any kind that had taken place here was when an African-American weightlifter had been heartily received and cheered during a national weightlifting competition a few years before.
The article said that white fans could purchase their tickets at the Home Plate Cafeteria at 7th and Cherry streets, while blacks could get theirs at Engel Stadium.
For whites, the tickets were $2 for a box seat and $1.50 for general admission in the grandstand. For the African-American fans, the cost was $1.75 for reserved seats in the black section of the grandstand and $1.50 for the bleachers and overflow.
Robinson was actually one of several Africian-Americans playing in the game. Dodger catcher Roy Campanella – who would tragically be paralyzed in an automobile accident after the 1957 season – was playing, as were Sam Jethroe, George Crow and Bill Bruton for the Braves.
The game was also a first for Engel Stadium in other ways, the newspaper reported. The stadium would start having organ music by Paul Herman instead of its usual multi-member orchestra, and coffee would now be sold in the concession stand.
Ernie Feagans and Luther Masingill of WDEF were also to serve as public address and radio announcers during the season.
In the game, the very large crowd of 9,098 fans saw some history of the baseball variety – a no-hitter. Brave pitchers Warren Spahn, the starter, and Ernie Johnson, who later became better known as the longtime voice of the Atlanta Braves, teamed up for the 1-0 victory.
The only score came in the top of the ninth, when Willard Marshall of the Braves hit one over the Uncle Herman sign in right field against Preacher Roe, who also had a pretty good game.
“Many a fan has gone all the way to New York to see a game only to see nothing like this sparkling contest,” wrote sports writer Wirt Gammon the next day.
Besides the pitching, Dodger outfielder Duke Snider also gave the fans their money’s worth with a racing catch.
Robinson, meanwhile, went 0-3 in the game.
But the previous fall, when he brought a group of black all-stars to Engel Stadium for an exhibition game, he was the star of the night.
On Oct. 17, 1951 – shortly after his Dodgers lost to the New York Giants in a playoff for the National League pennant when Giant Bobby Thomson hit a memorable home run – Robinson led his all-star team to a 7-6 win against the New York All-Stars.
The game was tied in the 10th when Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians hit a double. The crowd of 7,749 then erupted because they knew who was coming to bat – Jackie Robinson.
Having just finished putting pen to paper by signing a bunch of autographs next to the dugout, he quickly put his bat to the ball and hit a shot beyond the rope designed to keep the overflow crowd back.
The crowd became even more delirious after watching Robinson – who was also serving as manager for his team – hit the winning RBI.
Hundreds swarmed around him after the game. “If Jackie doesn’t have writer’s cramp today, it won’t be the fault of the fans who were poking programs, envelopes and even new baseballs at him to be autographed last night,” wrote Buss Walker of the Times.
“Last seen of Jackie, he was struggling through the mass toward the exit, signing as he went,” Walker continued “Outside the park, later hundreds of fans were standing around, wanting to know which way Jackie would come out.”
Besides Robinson, who went 3-5, and Doby, others playing in the game included Sam Jethroe and Howard Brewer of the Boston Braves, and Luke Easter of the Cleveland Indians.
The paper reported that Robinson received $17,000 for his appearance, while some of the other players received up to $10,000.
Another visit Robinson made to Engel Stadium was on April 4, 1953, shortly after the stadium was enlarged by three sections on the third base side. That day, his Dodgers and the Braves – who by now had moved to Milwaukee - played in another pre-season exhibition game.
For those who have watched the 1950s’ episode of Ken Burns’ famous video on baseball, the names of the Dodgers are very familiar.
Besides Robinson, other Dodgers who were playing included shortstop Pee Wee Reese, left fielder Duke Snider, pitcher Johnny Podres and catchers Rube Walker and Roy Campanella. Also on the squad, but not playing in the game, was future manager Don Zimmer.
Another family member of the Dodgers was first baseman and future New York Mets manager Gil Hodges. But he did not play in the game because of an injured ankle.
The Milwaukee Braves players included third baseman Eddie Matthews (whose name is now prominently displayed on the outfield wall at Atlanta’s Turner Field), and Ernie Johnson
Although Robinson won the 1951 game, he was credited with losing the 1953 contest, which drew 6,125 fans. Playing third base instead of his usual second base, he misplayed a bouncing throw from centerfield, allowing big Ebba St. Claire to give the Braves a 9-8 lead.
No other scoring resulted, so that proved to be the deciding play.
The usually sure-handed shortstop Pee Wee Reese made two errors for the Dodgers in the first inning.
At the plate, Robinson did better, going 2-5.
Several others also had good days at the plate. Duke Snider and catcher Rube Walker each hit towering two-run homers in the second inning, while Sid Gordon had one for the Braves in the third.
Announcing the game from Engel for a national radio broadcast was legendary pitcher-turned-announcer Dizzy Dean.
Buss Walker wrote that Dean was complimentary of Engel Stadium. “He said the stadium is big time, strictly big league all the way, one of the prettiest ball parks he has ever seen,” he said.
The 1953 game took place while Billy Graham was drawing thousands for his famous crusade at the Warner Park Fieldhouse and Chamberlain Field. And a young Baylor School student named Ellis Goodloe Jr. was running 100-yard dash times never before seen here.
The Braves and the Dodgers were also scheduled to play two exhibition games against each other on April. 2 and 3, 1955, at Engel Stadium, but the one on April 2 was canceled because of rain.
In the April 3 game, the Braves – who stayed at the Read House – again won against that year’s World Series champions in front of 6,655 fans. Leading the way in the 5-1 victory was 6-foot-8-inch Milwaukee pitcher Gene Conley,
Robinson did not play in this game – nor did pitcher and future manager Tommy Lasorda - but someone named Henry “Hank” Aaron did for the Braves. The right fielder and future home run king went 0-3.
Unfortunately, this would be the last time the two teams played each other at Engel Stadium, as the Southern Association passed a rule that major league teams could no longer play each other at Southern Association parks, such as Engel Stadium, beginning in 1956.
The day after the 1955 game, some 2,379 fans watched the New York Yankees defeat the Chattanooga Lookouts, 11-8, in another exhibition game at Engel.
The star of that game was none other than Mickey Mantle. Besides making a shoestring catch in the outfield, he also had three hits. His first two were singles, while his third was a bunt he beat out strictly with speed.
“Mantle showed why he is rated one of the very fastest in getting down the line,” Wirt Gammon wrote.
Chattanoogans were being treated to some great baseball during that time, and color did not seem to matter.
John Shearer
Jcshearer2@comcast.net