Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
April 13, 2007
42

Bill Pennington describes the grass root movement that led to a unique way to honor Jackie Robinson on Sunday:

Sixty years after Jackie Robinson shook the baseball establishment and broke the sport's color barrier, an unforeseen grassroots movement by today's players has suddenly shaped the way Major League Baseball will commemorate the anniversary. Hundreds of players will wear Robinson's No. 42 retired by baseball 10 years ago in ballparks across the country on Sunday, the anniversary of Robinson's first appearance with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

While the tribute has received baseball's approval, it grew spontaneously from a request by the Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr., who asked Commissioner Bud Selig earlier this month if he could wear the number on April 15. What has evolved since is surprisingly organic for a group of famous, feted athletes with multimillion-dollar contracts.

As word of Griffey's gesture spread, small groups of players -- among them stars like Barry Bonds, Dontrelle Willis and Gary Sheffield -- decided also to wear 42 that day. Soon, there was a representative from every team. The Los Angeles Dodgers then decided to have their entire roster wear 42.

Now, there are six major league teams that plan to have everyone in uniform wearing No. 42 -- players, coaches, manager and bat boys. Those teams are the Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Houston Astros.

Willie Randolph sums it up best:

"Maybe the best thing about this year's tribute is that it came from the players," said Mets Manager Willie Randolph. "You hear these jokes that the modern player doesn't know anything about baseball history. But it's pretty clear that most of them do appreciate what Jackie Robinson did for them -- for all of them."

Hear! Hear!


Posted by David Pinto at 08:44 AM | History | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Barry Bonds wearing #42? That won't go over well.

Actually, I don't think Jackie would want to see any Giant wearing his number.

Posted by: Rally at April 13, 2007 10:08 AM

I desperately want the Dodgers to pound the Padres today, just so Bud Black can say after the game "#42 really hurt us out there today."

Posted by: Jeff B. at April 13, 2007 10:39 AM

Now if only everyone would call the award given to the top rookies in each league by its proper name...

Posted by: Marc Normandin at April 13, 2007 11:07 AM

Has anybody considered the practical considerations of having multiple players on the same team wear the same number which isn't theirs? The Yankees, for example will have both of their middle infielders and a pitcher wearing the same number. This will result in unnecesary confusion.

Posted by: Rob at April 13, 2007 04:23 PM

Marc,

Actually 5 entire TEAMS will be wearing #42. I guess people are gonna have to buy the gameday programs and grab some binoculars so they can see the players' faces if they want to know who they are.

Posted by: Katie at April 13, 2007 05:25 PM

Seems a small price to pay to see players honor an all-time great.

Posted by: Chris at April 14, 2007 01:13 AM
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