42 Faith
The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story
- History & Biography
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2017
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Publisher's Description
New York Times Bestseller J ackie Robinson, Branch Rickey, and the hidden hand of God that changed history Journalist and baseball lover Ed Henry reveals for the first time the backstory of faith that guided Jackie Robinson into not only the baseball record books but the annals of civil rights advancement as well. Through recently discovered sermons, interviews with Robinson’s family and friends, and even an unpublished book by the player himself, Henry details a side of Jackie’s humanity that few have taken the time to see. Branch Rickey, the famed owner who risked it all by signing Jackie to his first contract, is also shown as a complex individual who wanted nothing more than to make his God-fearing mother proud of him. Few know the level at which Rickey struggled with his decision, only moving forward after a private meeting with a minister he’d just met. It turns out Rickey was not as certain about signing Robinson as historians have always assumed. With many baseball stories to enthrall even the most ardent enthusiast, 42 Faith also digs deep into why Jackie was the man he was and what both drove him and challenged him after his retirement. From his early years before baseball, to his time with Rickey and the Dodgers, to his failing health in his final years, we see a man of faith that few have recognized. This book will add a whole new dimension to Robinson’s already awe-inspiring legacy. Yes, Jackie and Branch are both still heroes long after their deaths. Now, we learn more fully than ever before, there was an assist from God too.
Endorsements (7)
“I can’t wait to read this book because I have always had great respect for Jackie and his faith. His personality was to fight everything tooth and nail, but that was totally at odds with what he had to do to integrate baseball. So I think his faith in God was central to him finding a way to focus on the greater good.”
“42 Faith is a book about courage, struggle and, ultimately, victory over bias. The stories Ed Henry tells about Jackie Robinson’s ordeal put you right on the field of play. Unforgettable book.”
“Ed Henry knocks it out of the park! 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story is a home run. Baseball, bravery, and the best of who we are as America move this electrifying, true tale of courage to the very top of your must-read list.”
“Just when you thought there was nothing left to say, hear, or tell about 42. This story gives tremendous insight, not based on assumptions or opinion, but from those who know, because they were witnesses and lived it. Faith is powerful. It was for Jackie Robinson.”
“As a kid who grew up in Brooklyn idolizing Jackie Robinson, I thought I knew every last detail about his life. Then I read this magnificent book and was amazed to learn how much new information Ed Henry had dug up.”
“For so long, I could not even fathom how much adversity Jackie Robinson must have faced. But now I no longer have to wonder because of this magnificent new book from Ed Henry. My prayer is that I could handle my own daily challenges with a shred of the class and grace that Jackie had, characteristics which jump off the page here.”
“As a lifelong Yankees fan and a student of history, I can state my unequivocal view that the greatest combination in all of sports was not Ruth and Gehrig, or Mantle and Maris, or Jeter and Rivera. It was Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. By their extraordinary personal courage, Rickey and Robinson changed race relations in the United States more effectively and permanently that any legislation or litigation has—and produced fabulous baseball at the same time. In 42 Faith, Ed Henry has told the story of that remarkable courage and those happy changes and that exciting baseball with charm, brilliance, and page-turning joy.”
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