Play ball, Jackie!

Matty's father gets free tickets to the baseball game. It's the first game of the Dodgers' new first baseman, Jackie Robinson. Many white people don't want to see a black man play on the team. Matty remembered how his grandfather had told him that everyone deserves a chance. Matty decides to give Jackie a chance, too.

“'What do you think, Dad?' Matty asked. ‘Should Jackie Robinson be here?'

‘I want to see the best players out there,' said his father. ‘I don't care what color they are. Remember, your grandfather came to America from Italy. Lots of people didn't give him a chance, either. He looked strange to them. His clothes were shabby, and he spoke English with an accent. He had to work long and hard for everything he got.'”