The Deal.

Robinson went to his interview with Rickey believing the cover story about a new league. Rickey, on the other hand, wanted to be sure that Robinson was the right player for his bold plan. He needed to find a man with superlative skills as a ballplayer who also had sufficient self-control to endure with dignity the torment and abuse he would suffer. The most famous players in the Negro Leagues—Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, and Cool Papa Bell — were past their prime. Robinson, at twenty-six, was coming into his best years, and he seemed to possess the character for which Rickey was looking. Rickey interviewed Robinson for three hours. During that time he challenged Robinson to say how he would react, for instance, if he were spiked by an opposing player and then called racial names. Robinson remembered...