To which team was Jackie Robinson traded in 1956?

The Brooklyn Dodgers traded Jackie Robinson to the New York Giants after the 1956 season. The proposed deal sent Robinson to the Dodgers’ longtime National League rival in exchange for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000 in cash.

However, the trade was never completed on the field. Robinson had already decided to retire from baseball and accept an executive position with Chock full o’Nuts, a coffee company. The Dodgers did not initially know about that agreement, so the trade became moot when Robinson’s retirement was announced.

Robinson had finished the 1956 season with a .275 batting average, 61 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. He had also begun experiencing the effects of diabetes and had lost interest in continuing as a player or pursuing a managerial career. His final game was Game 7 of the 1956 World Series, when he struck out to end the contest.

The common trap is assuming Robinson actually played for the Giants. He did not: New York was the team to which he was traded, but his retirement prevented the transfer from taking effect.