Series Review: Jackie Robinson on PBS

There’s value in learning and knowing more about baseball’s first black player

This two-part documentary, originally shown five years ago on PBS, leaves gaps as it informs. A narrator sets forth facts of Jackie Robinson’s life and provides the context for the next few hours. Viewers learn essential information about Robinson, including batting averages, business deals and performance on the baseball field.

Filmmaker Ken Burns magnifies Robinson’s skin color at the expense of Robinson’s ability. I found myself groping for crucial facts about Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. There’s a distinct lack (especially in the first episode) of documentary evidence about why and how he played baseball. How did he learn to throw, run, take risk in stealing bases, decide when to swing the bat, etc.? There’s one mention of his first position (shortstop) in the first episode and one mention of his primary position (second baseman) in the second episode. Jackie Robinson lacks serious examination, let alone evaluation, of his overall record. 

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