Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? by Buddy Johnson and Count Basie

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?
by Buddy Johnson and Count Basie

The Library of Congress received four music related requests in their Copyright Office in 1947 - the year Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut.

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? was easily the most famous of those four honorary songs and an instant classic. The song was originally written and performed by Buddy Johnson, who recorded it in 1949 and saw it peak on the charts at number 13. That same year Count Basie re-recorded Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? on the Victor Label and his version became a true baseball standard.

"Here was a player who had without doubt suffered more abuse and more taunts and more hatred than any player in the history of the game. And he (Jackie Robinson) had made a special effort to compliment and encourage a young white kid from Oklahoma." - Mickey Mantle

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
It went zoomin cross the left field wall.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.

And when he swung his bat,
the crowd went wild,
because he knocked that ball a solid mile.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.

Satchel Paige is mellow,
so is Campanella,
Newcombe and Doby, too.
But it's a natural fact,
when Jackie comes to bat,
the other team is through.

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain't all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone.

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain't all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone.
Jackie's is a real gone guy.

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?

Additional details about the life and times of Jackie Robinson can be found on Baseball Almanac including the box score for his first major league game, quotations from and about the hall of famer, and much much more.

Click the Radio to Hear Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball by Taps Miller

Did you know that the voice heard on Count Basie's classic rendition (which is available directly above this Fast Fact) is Taps Miller?

Other important details for those looking for additional data include the original recording (Decca 24675), the original words and music (LOC EU 169446), and the Count Basie recordin (Victor 20-3514).

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