TWENTY-EIGHT
MONTREAL, CANADA — SEPTEMBER, 1946Robinson was the biggest star in the International League. With only a few days left to go in the season, he had helped his team clinch a first place finish, and he was leading the league in batting average and stolen bases. His presence set attendance records around the league.
He stood in the street outside the clubhouse, under a sign that read NO ADMITTANCE. There, he saw a young face in dark sunglasses in the throng of autograph seekers. He was a husky, light-skinned black man, about twenty, with tight dark hair.
Robinson wanted to sign as many pieces of paper as he could. He went through the people, slowly, politely. The fans didn’t know how he had suffered that season — the abuse, the near nervous breakdown, and the stomach disorders.
