The MLB season trudges along, without actual baseball activity, and another special day is erased in the 2020 season. Jackie Robinson Day is more than just honoring the man who broke the color barrier, it’s about building camaraderie in the game for what he played for.
On this day back in 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, to become the first African American to play in MLB, when he broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ever since then, whether recognized or not, the day has meant something special to the game and its players.
In 2009 league commissioner Bud Selig said all players and personnel will wear uniform number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson. There are no names on the back of the uniforms, simply just the number 42.
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For the game of baseball, the focus is solely on honoring the man. For the players, the camaraderie abounds as there are no longer stars singled out by their name, or their number. Twenty-six men on the active roster become one team focusing on one individual.
The players are not the only ones though who memorialize Robinson. All coaches and umpires don the number as well in a show of unity.
As an added incentive for the day, groundskeepers in certain stadiums mow a 42 into the outfield or paint it on the pitcher’s mound or behind the batter’s box. Fans in these stadiums have been able to look around their respective ballparks at the retired numbers for their teams and see the number 42 enshrined as well. in 1997 Major League Baseball retired the number for all teams, only players who were currently wearing it were allowed to continue.
Mariano Rivera was the last active player to wear the uniform on a regular basis and he retired in 2013.
Right now in a time of uncertainty, we yearn to get our sports back. We realize the health and safety of everyone involved is bigger than the game though. On April 15th we also recognize Jackie Robinson is bigger than the game of baseball.
There will be no stadiums for fans to stream into today. There will be no number 42 uniforms for players to put on. The spirit of the day should not be lost, however.