The cool of night had descended on Ebbets Field; it was only 94° in the dusk. In a box on the 50-yard line sat old Branch Rickey, in his shirtsleeves, peering disconsolately at the half-empty house (16,411). His baseball Brooklyn Dodgers were packing in the fans; this was Rickey's first game as owner of a pro football team also known as the Brooklyn Dodgers. All afternoon, ticket cancellations had poured in. Even three of Rickey's own guests begged off. Snorted Branch disgustedly: "Who ever heard of canceling a football game because of a...
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