--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left…" description: "\"I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left baseball, where could I go, what could I do to earn enough money to help my mother and to marry Rachel? The solut..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_i-felt-unhappy-and-trapped-if-i-left-bas_1333072.jpg" --- # I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left baseball, where… ![“I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left baseball, where could I go, what could I do to earn enough money to help my mother and to marry Rachel? The solution to my problem was only days away in the hands of a tough, shrewd, courageous man called Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers.” quote by Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_i-felt-unhappy-and-trapped-if-i-left-bas_1333072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_i-felt-unhappy-and-trapped-if-i-left-bas_1333072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_i-felt-unhappy-and-trapped-if-i-left-bas_1333072.jpg) > “I felt unhappy and trapped. If I left baseball, where could I go, what could I do to earn enough money to help my mother and to marry Rachel? The solution to my problem was only days away in the hands of a tough, shrewd, courageous man called Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers.” [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator feels trapped financially and emotionally, seeing a baseball executive as a hopeful solution. **In simple terms:** I felt trapped, hoping a baseball boss could help. Key Takeaway Seek mentorship and opportunities in unexpected places. Themes career family hope Mood hopeful determined Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - job search - financial planning - family support Key Concepts sports management social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What other paths could you explore? - How can you build a broader support network? A Different Perspective Relying on one person may be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Courageous man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous-man/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) ## Related quotes > [Branch Rickey made me a better man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/branch-rickey-made-me-a-better-man/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [Branch Rickey once said of me that I was a man with an infinite capacity for immediately making a bad thing worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-durocher/branch-rickey-once-said-of-me-that-i-was-a-man-with-an-infinite/) [Leo Durocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-durocher/) > [I had no future with the Dodgers, because I was too closely identified with Branch Rickey. After the club was taken over by Walter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-had-no-future-with-the-dodgers-because-i-was-too-closely-identified/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [The day I left baseball, I became smart. When I was in baseball, I played for the love of the game. I'd sign any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-connors/the-day-i-left-baseball-i-became-smart-when-i-was-in-baseball-i/) [Chuck Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-connors/) > [I haven't been really superstitious once I left baseball, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-boggs/i-haven-t-been-really-superstitious-once-i-left-baseball-actually/) [Wade Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-boggs/) > [ That \[film What's My Line\] was very useful to me because it had Branch Rickey in a social situation. Every other bit of film… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/that-film-what-s-my-line-was-very-useful-to-me-because-it-had-branch/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [What I found was an emotional consistency with him. The words, the scenes, the situations - I wasn't mimicking what I thought Branch Rickey's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/what-i-found-was-an-emotional-consistency-with-him-the-words-the/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [The story of Jackie Robinson is also the story of Branch Rickey. He had many reasons for doing what he did, but he stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-story-of-jackie-robinson-is-also-the-story-of-branch-rickey-he/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [He (Branch Rickey) must think I went to the Massachesetts Constitution of Technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-dean/he-branch-rickey-must-think-i-went-to-the-massachesetts-constitution/) [Dizzy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-dean/) > [ \[Jimmy\] Breslin's \[write\] really great book on Branch Rickey. And Branch Rickey himself wrote quite a lot. There's some film and kinescope from television. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/jimmy-breslin-s-write-really-great-book-on-branch-rickey-and-branch/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [Well, Rickey's not one of them, so that's 49 percent right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/well-rickey-s-not-one-of-them-so-that-s-49-percent-right-there/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [Rickey doesn't have albums, Rickey has CDs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/rickey-doesn-t-have-albums-rickey-has-cds/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [Mr. Rickey, I'll put more people in the park than anybody since Babe Ruth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-dean/mr-rickey-i-ll-put-more-people-in-the-park-than-anybody-since-babe/) [Dizzy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-dean/) > [Rickey don't like it when Rickey can't find Rickey's limo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/rickey-don-t-like-it-when-rickey-can-t-find-rickey-s-limo/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [Nothing's impossible for Rickey. You don't have enough fingers and toes to count out Rickey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/nothing-s-impossible-for-rickey-you-don-t-have-enough-fingers-and/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) ## More by Jackie Robinson > [I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-had-to-fight-hard-against-loneliness-abuse-and-the-knowledge-that/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [After two years at UCLA, I decided to leave. I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/after-two-years-at-ucla-i-decided-to-leave-i-was-convinced-that-no/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-longley-he-proved-to-me-that/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/today-negroes-play-on-every-big-league-club-and-in-every-minor-league/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [In all my years of baseball, I have always expected to be traded. I never liked the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/in-all-my-years-of-baseball-i-have-always-expected-to-be-traded-i/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/pop-flies-in-a-sense-are-just-a-diversion-for-a-second-baseman/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-been-white-with-the-things-i-did-they-never-would-have/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [This ain't fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/this-ain-t-fun-but-you-watch-me-i-ll-get-it-done/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Are you looking for a Negro who won't fight back?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/are-you-looking-for-a-negro-who-won-t-fight-back/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [If I had to choose between baseball’s Hall of Fame and first class citizenship for all of my people. I would say first-class citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-to-choose-between-baseball-s-hall-of-fame-and-first-class/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I cannot possibly believe that I have it made while so many black brothers and sisters are hungry, inadequately housed, insufficiently clothed, denied their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-cannot-possibly-believe-that-i-have-it-made-while-so-many-black/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I don't think that I or any other Negro, as an American citizen, should have to ask for anything that is rightfully his. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-don-t-think-that-i-or-any-other-negro-as-an-american-citizen-should/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-right-of-every-american-to-first-class-citizenship-is-the-most/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [It's not easy to be a martyr in the field of race relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-martyr-in-the-field-of-race-relations/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-do-not-believe-that-every-person-in-every-walk-of-life-can-succeed/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) [Explore all 63 Jackie Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I felt unhappy and trapped. 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