Jackie Robinson’s All-Stars Exhibitions
Ad in Arkansas Press, 10/20/1950
The Jackie Robinson's All-Stars barnstorming tour played exhibition games in Arkansas in 1950 and 1953.
History
The Jackie Robinson All-Stars first played in Arkansas on October 23rd, 19501. Robinson' squad had appeared in Little Rock the year before, but was rained out.
In 1953, Robinson returned to Arkansas again. This time, the troupe played against the Negro American All-Stars in both games2.
The first Arkansas stop of the tour was in Hot Springs during the afternoon of October 22nd. However, even though Robinson, a two-time MVP, was playing, only 800 fans showed up to Jaycee Park to see the exhibition, the lowest attendance of the entire tour. Gil Hodges hit a two-run homerun, but Robinson's All-stars lost the game 14-9.
Later that evening, the troupe made their second Arkansas stop at Travelers Field in Little Rock. This time, 4,137 fans showed up to see the Robinson's troupe beat the Negro Leaguers 7-6. The victors were aided by two homeruns off the bat of Luke Easter. However, the highlight of the game might of been a triple play turned by the Negro Americans in the 7th inning.
October 21st, 1949, Little Rock, AR
Rainout. 3
October 23rd, 1950 Exhibition
"Little Rock again proved a hoodoo for Robinson, the evening of October 21, Jackie being rained out there for the second year in succession. The afternoon contest at Pine Bluff, Ark., also was called off because of rain . . . Rescheduling the rained-out game at Little Rock for October 23, Robinson headed his own team of stars to begin a ten-game series against the Indianapolis Clowns. The contest played before 4,634, wound up in a 7-7 tie after being called at the end of the twelfth inning to enable the squads to make the trip to Houston, Tex. Robinson led his team with a double and two singles, scoring two runs."4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | R |
| Indianapolis | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Robinson's All-Stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby and Don Newcombe played.
October 22, 1953, Hot Springs, AR
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | |||
| Negro American All-Stars | 14 | ||||||||||||
| Robinson's All-Stars | 9 | ||||||||||||
October 22, 1953, Little Rock, AR
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | |||
| Negro American All-Stars | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Robinson's All-Stars | 7 | ||||||||||||
2. The Sporting News, November 4th, 1953
3. The Sporting News, 11/2/1949
4. The Sporting News, 11/1/1950
5. Oregonian, 10/24/1950
6. Trenton Evening Times, 10/24/1950
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