MLB Players Wear ’42’ on Their Cleats to Pay Tribute to Jackie Robinson

On April 15th, MLB players, coaches, and umpires wore #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. A few players went the extra mile with their cleats.

When MLB players honor Jackie Robinson each year on April 15th, they’re honoring someone who broke the color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on the same day in 1947.

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Robinson has been honored in numerous different ways, the most notable being every jersey donning the number ’42’ on April 15th to remember the legacy he created and the segregation he ended.

The jerseys and the patches are just one form of tribute.  A few players went the extra mile with their individual tributes in custom cleats.

The first player was more than likely to have paid tribute on more than just his jersey was Robinson Cano. Cano, whose namesake is the very man being honored, and whose number 24 is the inverse of Jackie Robinson’s iconic 42, went all out in his cleat design.

He shared the design on his personal Twitter prior to Monday’s game against the Phillies:

Every inch pays tribute in its own unique way.

The immediate standout, of course, is the color scheme; the Dodgers’ blue, red and white.

On them, of course, the date, his signature, his number, but the unique image of his famous slide into home plate on a steal of home complete the perfect ensemble.

It’s a shame that these cleats won’t be worn more than just the one game because they are certainly expertly crafted.

On the opposite side of the field came another pair of tribute cleats.

Bryce Harper, who already grabbed the attention of his new home crowd in Philly with his Phanatic cleats, also showed a touching salute to Robinson.

Harper’s cleats date back to before the barrier was broken:

Though not as lavish as Cano’s cleats, Harper’s more subtle approach show just as much homage in that of Robinson’s alma mater.

The blue and gold may have a slight clash with his red pinstripes but certainly, Harper can overlook the color mesh for one game.

Lastly, what would it be to honor a great Dodger without a Dodger holding honor to Robinson?

Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen shared his own cleats prior to the Dodgers’ game against the Reds:

The Dodgers this season are also honoring the passing of Robinson’s teammate Don Newcombe and also sported hats with the ‘B’ for Brooklyn logo. The whole evening was made even more touching with the Dodgers walking off the Reds Monday night:

The impacts Robinson has made on MLB players and the game clearly are everlasting.