"The occasion was the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major league debut. The irony was there were relatively few African-American major leaguers around to celebrate the moment.

The decline of blacks on major league rosters continues to this day. In 2007, there were only two options in the A's clubhouse for someone seeking an authoritative take on how Robinson's legacy resonates among members of his own race.

Shannon Stewart was a natural. Easygoing, approachable, chatty, he was known as one of baseball's good guys.

Milton Bradley? Hmmm.

We're all guilty of making snap judgments about people we don't know. The temptation to prejudge Bradley is almost irresistible. By the time he arrived in Oakland in 2006, he'd already worn out his welcome in Montreal, Cleveland and with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Later in the summer of '07, the A's would abruptly trade him to San Diego. The Padres would let him walk at season's end, which would lead to one-and-done seasons with Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He is now on leave from the Seattle Mariners, whom he has asked for help in dealing with unspecified personal problems.

But we're getting ahead of our story. A little over three years ago, there was no choice. If you wanted to discuss Jackie Robinson with the people who were most affected by his pioneering baseball career, you had to seek Bradley's counsel, however hesitantly."