On April 15, 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers made sports history when Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in the major leagues. From that watershed moment, the Dodgers and Major League Baseball set a new standard for integration and became a national symbol for a cohesive American culture. Ten years later, the team relocated to the West Coast, shocking a borough and forever changing the professional sports landscape.
Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts Of Flatbush will examine the team's excellence in the National League, as well as their persistent problems competing against their archrivals from the American League, the New York Yankees.
Capturing the unique relationship between the Dodgers and the borough of Brooklyn, the film recalls the controversial decision that dismayed their fans. As the sport became the nation's pastime, the Dodgers' antiquated Ebbets Field grew insufficient, leading to team owner Walter O'Malley's decision to relocate the beloved franchise to Los Angeles in 1957.
The film uses archival footage and revealing interviews, featuring: Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson; former players; former Dodgers general manager Emil J. "Buzzie" Bavasi; former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley; television commentator Larry King; comedian Pat Cooper; among others.
For more information about Jackie Robinson, visit The Jackie Robinson Foundation
