I wasn't just another athlete being hired by a ball club. We were playing for big stakes. This was the reason Branch Rickey's search had been so exhaustive. The search had spanned the globe and narrowed down to a few candidates, then finally to me. When it looked as though I might be the number-one choice, the investigation of my life, my habits, my reputation, and my character had become an intensified study.

What is the author’s purpose for including this paragraph?

to inform readers about Rickey’s thorough selection process
to inform readers about Rickey’s distrust of Robinson
to persuade readers that Robinson is the best athlete in the league
to entertain readers with a story about Robinson and Rickey