The story of Bob Brooks' exclusive 1947 interview with Jackie Robinson at Wrigley Field

Editor's note: Peter Brooks is a sophomore journalism student at Mount Mercy University and the grandson of legendary broadcast Bob Brooks.

In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey made the bold decision to sign Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.

There were strict circumstances surrounding Robinson, however. Even though the signing was big news in 1947, no journalist was allowed near him. Even Dodgers players did not want to be near him. Baseball fans and others were curious to what was going through Robinson's mind.

There were not many who found out.

On a bright sunny day at Wrigley Field in early June of '47, the Dodgers were taking batting practice preparing for a game against the Chicago Cubs. Harold Parrott was the traveling agent for the Dodgers and, in addition to that job, he also had the duty of making sure Robinson was safe and no members of the media came close to him. Midway through the Dodgers pregame, Parrott was chatting with players and managers and not really paying attention to his surroundings. A young journalist — 23-year-old Bob Brooks of Cedar Rapids — was on the field with media access. Brooks saw Robinson sitting by himself at the end of the Dodgers dugout on the first base side and decided to enter the dugout and try to get some thoughts from the future Hall of Famer.

When Brooks sat down. he struck up normal conversation with Robinson and noticed he had a very high-pitched and raspy voice. After the short, casual conversation Brooks asked, 'Can I ask you a few questions?' Robinson agreed.

The interview lasted five or six minutes. It consisted only of questions about Robinson's baseball career and his days at UCLA as a multisport athlete. Brooks did not ask one question about Robinson's race and the issues he was having. In the middle of the interview, Brooks noticed Parrott out of the corner of his eye walking toward the dugout. Brooks said a quick goodbye to Robinson and hustled out of the dugout, going through the stands toward the concourse.

'I went to the biggest crowd I could find and hid until the game started, then made my way up to the press area,' Brooks said, recalling the interview.

Brooks said he wasn't afraid, but just needed to get out of the dugout. He no longer has the tape of the interview.

Brooks stressed there were better players than Robinson in the Negro Leagues. But Robinson fit the mold Rickey wanted for his club. Robinson was educated, leaving UCLA just shy of graduation, had a good family and was very mentally strong.

It was the toughness of Robinson that helped him break the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

Robinson went on to have a .311 career batting average. He won Rookie Of The Year in 1947 and the MVP award in 1949. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

On April 15, 2004, the first Jackie Robinson Day was held. As a salute to Robinson, every player in Major League Baseball player wears No. 42 on that special day.