TPSM Hosts Austin Screening of Warner Bros.' "42"

The College of Communication's Texas Program In Sports and Media hosted the Austin screening of Warner Bros.' "42" on March 20, 2013 at the Paramount Theatre. The film premieres nationwide on Friday, April 12, 2013, in the same month that Jackie Robinson played his first game as a Brooklyn Dodger.

Branch Rickey III introduces Warner Bros.' film "42" on the legacy of Jackie Robinson from Moody College of Communication on Vimeo.

After the screening of "42," which tells the story of Jackie Robinson, TPSM hosted a panel moderated by baseball historian and attorney Talmage Boston. The panel featured Sharon Robinson, daughter of the late Jackie Robinson and an educational consultant for Major League Baseball, and Branch B. Rickey III, grandson of the late Branch Rickey and president of the Pacific Coast League. The three discussed the film and the impact Robinson and Rickey have had on race relations in the U.S.

"This is the first big-time Hollywood depiction of this important event in more than 60 years," said Boston. "It's such an unbelievable and wonderful story, and I just want it to come back to life."

Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, bringing an end to segregation in professional baseball. Branch Rickey was the president of the Dodgers who recruited and signed Robinson.

For the full-length panel discussion with Sharon Robinson, Branch Rickey III and Talmage Boston, visit https://vimeo.com/62937366.

Sharon Robinson


Robinson oversees school and community-based educational programs for Major League Baseball. She is also the author of "Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By" and "Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America." Before joining Major League Baseball, Sharon Robinson worked for 20 years as a nurse-midwife and educator. She has taught at Yale, Columbia, Howard and Georgetown universities.

Branch B. Rickey III


Rickey has served as a league president in Triple-A Baseball leagues for more than 20 years. Before joining the Triple-A Baseball leagues, Rickey served as director of player development for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.

Talmage Boston


Boston has 35 years of experience practicing law as a commercial trial and appellate litigator in Dallas, and is a shareholder of Winstead PC. In addition to practicing law, Boston is the author of "1939: Baseball's Tipping Point" and "Baseball and the Baby Boomer." He has been inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame as a media member.