I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson – The Bestselling Story of Integrating Baseball and Advancing the Fight for Equality
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The bestselling autobiography of American baseball and civil rights legend Jackie RobinsonBefore Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues. I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment"—Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball. More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field. Read more
Publisher : Ecco
Publication date : May 6, 2003
Edition : Edition Unstated
Language : English
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0060555971
ISBN-13 : 79
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #114,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #30 in Canadian Historical Biographies #79 in Historical African Biographies (Books) #86 in Baseball Biographies (Books)
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Paperback
Outstanding book 📕
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2026 by Lateef
Format: Hardcover
This is obviously about Jackie Robinson's life and his baseball career, but it is also about some American history and what it was like back in the 40s, 50s, 60s for black ballplayers and ballplayers of any color. He also goes into his family dynamics and devotes several chapters to his experiences in politics, his views on race relations, civil rights, and some other topics. Fascinating read. What a deal too, I got this used from Amazon for $6.23 (cover price $24), hardcover, originally from Bellmore Memorial Library on Long Island. It is in like new condition. Can't beat it.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025 by DEC73
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars (excellent) Review: Jackie Robinson is one of the few athletes whose importance and popularity transcended sports. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent autobiography on his life, his outspoken views on the state of civil rights for black people during his life and oh, yes, a little bit about his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers as well. Most people know of his accomplishments on the baseball field and what he had to endure during his early years with the Dodgers, even those who are not sports fans. However, it might not be known to most readers that Robinson was also active in politics for the Republican Party. Given the history of the relationship between civil rights leaders and the GOP, that might come as a surprise, but Robinson does a good job of explaining why he did so and what the eventual outcome would be. Robinson pulls no punches in this book. Whether it is about race relations in society, the military or baseball, or his relationships with first Branch Rickey and then Walter O'Malley, or the tender passages written about his wife Rachel and their three children, the reader will know without a doubt how Robinson feels about that topic. By writing his true feelings and not sugar-coating it or making it more palatable for those who might not be comfortable with such frankness, I thought that every subject he wrote about was told in a much better way. The reader learns about the topic, gets Robinson's perspective, and can then make up his or her own mind. The baseball sections of the book are very good as well. There isn't much description of on-field action or statistical analysis, however. This is written from a player's point of view and the views expressed are just as much about the business and the social life on the field as well as hits and runs. It was just enough to satiate the sports fan in me, but because this book is so much more than just a sports book, it should be read with the objective of learning about other topics as well. This book certainly will teach the reader a lot about that era in American history and a lot about Jackie Robinson, the man. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent book that many readers should pick up and enjoy. Did I skim? No. Did I learn something new? Yes, a lot. Because Robinson recounted so many of his experiences in great detail, I learned so much about his convictions on race relations and civil rights. I did have a casual understanding of his off-field life and activities, but I did not realize how involved he was with the civil rights movement and politics. Pace of the book: Fairly slow, but in a good way. For a reader like me who wanted to learn so much more about the man, it was helpful to read the book slowly. Positives: There were so many in this book that it would be hard to list them all. However, I believe they can all be covered by just stating that was a very outspoken man and this book reflects that trait. Negatives: While this isn't a negative for me, some readers might not be comfortable reading about Robinson's candor on the controversial issues of his day. There were two notable problems in the editing of the e-book version. One was that a period was inserted prior to each use of the word "other." The .other (intended to show that edit) was that when the World Series was discussed, the phrase was not capitalized as it is elsewhere. Do I recommend? Yes. Going well beyond sports and baseball, this book is a good source of information on issues concerning race relations and some events of the turbulent 1960's. Whether the reader likes baseball, politics, history or biographies, this book is an excellent read for anybody who enjoys these topics.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013 by LSmith
Format: Paperback
Very inspiring book. Not sure I could endure what this man went thru
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2026 by Craig A. Rodrigues
Format: Paperback
This book provided interesting insight to the thinking of a man who made a mark on American history. We frequently hear about Jackie Robinson as the baseball icon who broke racial barriers in a segregated institution. We seldom hear of his many contributions to the business and political world. His autobiography gives personal insight to his life and the impact he had in the socio-political arena. Jackie was an outspoken advocate of his personal beliefs. He took on many challenges and sometimes suffered the consequences of those struggles. The reader gets to experience Jack Robinson as a dynamic individual who is sometimes bitter, sometimes apologetic, sometimes sexist, sometimes full of pain, and sometimes proud. He discusses his views, his motivations, his reasoning, and his failures. The book reads as if the manuscript was typed verbatim from a tape recorded story of Jackie's life. As times, it lacks sufficient historical perspective that would provide greater information and understanding for the reader. One of the short comings of the book is the lack of footnotes. Jackie refers to a variety of documents including newspaper articles, but fails to provide footnotes so that the reader can refer to and research the source. Footnotes provide an excellent tool to look for and obtain more information on the subject. Due to the fact that there are many such references, they should have been available. It would have also been a plus to see copies of some of the letters written to Jackie by Rockefeller, Nixon, and other historical figures that are discussed at length in the book. I would have also like to know more about Jackie's early years, such as, the schools he attended and how he entered UCLA. I am sure that there was more to his entry into the UC system than merely filling out an application. There is also limited information about this mother and his siblings, or whether his father ever attempted to contact his famous and outspoken son. Although, we hear from the man himself, upon finishing the book, I felt as if the work was incomplete. It feels more like a work in progress than a finished memoir of a man who attempted and accomplished so much.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013 by The Golden Bear
Format: Kindle
There have been a number of instances in which I have found autobiographies to come across as rather disjointed, varying in tone by page and by chapter, particularly when it comes to those co-authored by individuals who are not themselves subjects of the stories within. To what extent this is the result of editorializing or revisionism on the part of either subject or co-author, I never know for certain. With "I Never Had It Made," I felt that, while I could not personally discern any significant difference between the flesh and blood individual and the form apparent in the written word from any first- or second-hand experience (being born 15 years after his passing and all), I suspected this to be a natural extension of Jackie Robinson's persona. As a ballplayer, Jackie endured countless threats, taunts, and much worse, for the sake of Branch Rickey's "noble experiment." As a man, Jackie is incredible effusive when it comes to his on-the-field achievements as member of a World Series-winning Brooklyn Dodgers team and well-deserving inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you are looking for the story of Jackie Robinson's life, i.e. the chronology of events from birth to baseball, success and fame, to activist and icon status, well, this is probably not that book. What is perhaps most striking, in my opinion, is the manner in which the tone shifts repeatedly from Jackie's humble perspective as a son/husband/father/soldier/ballplayer/businessman/activist, deflecting praise for achievements that seem to have come about as a natural extension of his determination and effort to prove himself worthy in seemingly every personal endeavor, to his stream-of-consciousness sort of reflections on the choices (and admitted mistakes) he made, often against the will of the pigheaded masses, or those closest to him. What comes through most in this book is evidently Jackie's voice. While Jackie does not sugar-coat things, he does not tend to dwell on past transgressions against him. While he does not proclaim justice to have been faithfully served in his lifetime, nor wildly optimistic sentiments about the likelihood that it shall have come to be upheld in his children's, he consistently emphasizes the beliefs and values that have guided him throughout a life that, although extraordinary in its accomplishments, is remarkably ordinary in its narrative of struggle and overcoming of one's obstacles. That is not to detract from the transcendent stature of Jackie Robinson's legacy, which he earned in spite of 'never having it made.' Rather, in much the same way he enlightens readers to the differences of opinion he had with the likes of Dr. King and Malcolm X, or common ground he shared with Nixon and Rockefeller, Jackie does not shy away from contradiction, and embodies the message of Matthew 5:14 ("You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.") that has so frequently been misappropriated by politicians and evangelists. If Jackie Robinson is to be considered a shining example of American ideals (and I firmly believe that he is), a flawed but beautiful fusion of both conservative and liberal values that seems particularly poignant these days, then I believe that this book should be as widely shared and read as humanly possible.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016 by Tom
Format: Paperback
No one can deny the greatness that is Jackie Robinson. He was given one of the biggest challenges a black man could face in the mid-1940's, and he did not just survive, he flourished into one of the most talented baseball players ever. We are all blessed to have the words of Jackie Robinson written down before his untimely death. I greatly enjoyed his autobiography. I am a true blue Dodger fan and I always love reading about the iconic Jackie Robinson. In this book, Robinson seemingly skims over his playing years not because they were not important, but because his life after baseball was so extraordinary. He loved baseball but being a great man with a wonderful family meant more to him. This is a great story that can inspire anyone
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Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2010 by Reid McCormick
Format: Paperback
They say to whom much is given, much is expected. In Jackie's case he didn't ask to take on this feat- but nonetheless he accepted the mission and gave it his all- and succeeded- perhaps at the expense of his own personal life and serenity. This man had a huge task and he never shirked when it seemed to be insurmountable...the crux of the challenge was that jackie was told that he would be up against jeering crowds, small minds, hostile people that would do their best to get his goat- and that it was imperative that jackie did not resist and defend- and he upheld his end of the bargain.Jackie shows us all the high road.I am no sports fan but I did love this book- because it is about focus, strength and grace in the face of opposition, and a trailblazer personality that lit the way for many many people.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2006 by kooky Kid