While Jackie Robinson Day is always special in Major League Baseball, that is especially the case this year. This will mark the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s MLB debut, when the color barrier was shattered forever. To this day, Robinson still inspires people from all walks of life.
That is still the case in baseball as well. Several players, including David Price and Mike Moustakas, are donating their salaries from Friday’s game to invest in inner city and rural youth baseball programs.
Jackie Robinson Day leading to wonderful gestures
Once Robinson shattered the color barrier, teams quickly began to realize that black players could make meaningful contributions to the game. Those teams that integrated early found success, while those that resisted the evidence that black players were left behind.
As those black players found success, there were far more to be found in the majors. In the 1970s, black players accounted for approximately 20% of all major leaguers. That number has steadily decreased since that time, with just 7% of players on Opening Day rosters in 2021 falling into that category.
This is something that MLB is looking to change. As they look for ways to bring younger fans into the game, the best way to make that happen is to get kids to play baseball once again. This is the case regardless of where those youngsters happen to be located.
With this gesture by those players, they are ensuring that Robinson’s legacy lives on. They are investing in those same youngsters who could look at him as an inspiration, someone whose own path and struggles still reverberate to this day.
Jackie Robinson Day is a day of celebration and remembrance. For several MLB players, it is a chance to give back to the community.