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MLB: A brief history of Jackie Robinson Day in baseball

By Noah Yingling

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey talk happily after a contract signing meeting in the offices of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Ebbets Field on January 25, 1950 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey talk happily after a contract signing meeting in the offices of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Ebbets Field on January 25, 1950 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 07: Former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. waves to the crowd prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Safeco Field on August 7, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. Griffey Jr. was on hand over the weekend for ceremonies retiring his jersey. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 07: Former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. waves to the crowd prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Safeco Field on August 7, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. Griffey Jr. was on hand over the weekend for ceremonies retiring his jersey. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

When did Jackie Robinson Day start?

Jackie Robinson’s #42 was retired throughout all of professional baseball for everybody (players, coaches, umpires, etc.) in 1997 but celebrating his #42 did not happen until 2004.

Initially, not all players wore #42, though. Originally, it was just the bases and baseballs had a #42 printed on them with some pre-game ceremonies at each stadium honoring Robinson.

Only 13 MLB games were played that day so not all teams celebrated the event but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made it a permanent event for the 2005 season and all MLB teams will play on the date.

Then, in 2007, future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. (who is African American) sought out permission to wear #42 on the day from Rachel Robinson and Bud Selig and both granted the request a few weeks before April 15 came. Selig also encouraged other MLB players to wear the number as well on April 15.

Eventually, by the time April 15 came around, five entire teams wore #42 (including the Los Angeles Dodgers) and some other players, coaches, and umpires throughout the league wore it, for a total of more than 150 people.

That did not go over well with some African American players, including All-Stars Torii Hunter and C.C. Sabathia, who both thought that too many people were wearing the number and that only a select few should wear it.

More personnel wore the number in 2008 but in 2009, every player, coach, and umpire has worn the number 42 on April 15 (or, if games were postponed on that date due to weather, on the makeup day of the game).

The links between Jackie Robinson and Clayton Kershaw. dark. Next

That has been the case since then. Friday will be the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson making his MLB debut and it will be celebrated throughout all of professional baseball and for it, MLB Network will be airing a featured special called “Remembering Jackie,” hosted by Harold Reynolds, with interviews with former President Bill Clinton, Bud Selig, and many others.

Other festivities will be celebrated throughout the United States as well.

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