Saturday, April 16, 2011

Hear me out first...

I know that I'm going to sound blasphemous, but hear me out. As I watched the Mariners stink again until it was too late, I was frustrated by what I saw. I totally understand what yesterday was.

I have read many books on Jackie Robinson and know the history of what he went through. I find Jackie to be a role model that I can look to live my life like. This is the man that we should proud of also:

I think the things that Jackie did as a player were beyond awesome. The strength and courage he had to accept what was done to him on and off the field and continue to be the bigger man is beyond comprehension. I think that the trials that Jackie went through are lost on many people in all walks of life nowadays. I'm talking to you, you coward Dodger fans that beat a man into a coma. Jackie would not be proud to have you as fans of his team.

OK here comes the part people won't like. I remember back on April 15, 1997 Ken Griffey Jr. decided he would change to #42 for a day to honor Jackie. I thought the idea was outstanding for the 50th anniversary of Jackie coming into the league. Also on that day, commissioner Bud Selig pronounced that all teams would immediately retire #42. As a caveat, all players that were currently wearing the number could continue to wear it and when all those players retired, no one would ever wear it again. The only current player to still wear 42 would be Mariano Rivera. Once Mo's gone, that's it for the number. Why is it that for the last few years the league has decided to diminish the meaning, history, and honor of #42? I feel like trotting all players and coaches out in 42's kind of takes away from the specialness of the number.

While it is awesome that MLB wants to make sure that kids and adults don't forget what Jack Roosevelt Robinson went through in 1947 to change the history of the game for the better, I don't think the overuse of his number every year is the right thing to do. I like the idea of trying to do more education at ballparks the day to help people know about Jackie's life. I think that kids should have to read his autobiography "I Never Had It Made" or "Opening Day" in school to educate them on what racism and prejudice is.


I hold great respect to players like Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Willard Brown, Hank Thompson, Sam Jethroe, Minnie Minoso, Bob Trice, Gene Baker, Ernie Banks, Curt Roberts, Tom Alston, Nino Escalera, Carlos Paula, Elston Howard, John Kennedy, Ozzie Virgil, and Pumpsie Green. They were all the first to erase the color barriers of their respective teams. I find it abysmal that it took 12 years to fully integrate the major leagues. All of these great men had the courage to stand up to the hate that they were given in their respective cities and be the better men. I hope that everyone will remember the courage and hearts of Jackie, and all the other first African-Americans who helped bring the game of baseball to what it is today.

10 comments:

  1. I don't think it's really blasphemous to say that MLB doesn't need every single player wearing 42 on Jackie Robinson day. I think it would be cool if teams picked one player each year to wear the 42 on that day, and it could even be a different guy every year. They should definitely do more to promote that day than they do, though--how about giving out a copy of one of those books at any game going on that day?

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  2. You're not alone. Watching evreyone wear 42 yesterday felt stale and overdone. I have no problem with honoring Robinson, just don't make it feel gimicky.

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  3. The worst part is watching the Dodgers all go out there in No. 42 and then stink up the place in a 11-2 loss.

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  4. I disagree, though it's not blasphemy to say you don't like the practice because you think it cheapens Robinson's legacy. "Blasphemy" I guess would be if someone said something like "don't wear #42 - I'm sick of all this Jackie Robinson stuff".

    So where I disagree is that I don't think that all teams wearing #42 for ONE DAY each season is overkill. There are 364 other days in the year, and 161 other games in the season.

    I just posted on this - but a few years ago I went with my sister - who is by no means a baseball fan - to a game on April 15th. Everyone wearing #42 sparked a number of questions. I can see sons and daughters asking their dads this question each year on THIS ONE DAY. I don't think that cheapens anything.

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  5. I was watching the rotten Cubs game with my wife last night and used the same word as dodgerbobble, "gimmicky". There's got to be a better way.

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  6. I don't like the everyone wears 42 thing either. How about a commemorative patch for the game. Or everyone wear Broklyn Dodger hats but not everyone wear 42.

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  7. Recognize him and his achievements, yes. Everyone in the league wear his number? Really not necessary. I'd probably call it overkill, too.

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  8. I thought it was a little too much when they retired the number throughout the league. I get what they are doing, yes, but I don't think his number '42' exemplifies what a true task it was for him. I'd much rather have a Jackie Robinson statue or something inside the front gate of every park. To me, that would be much more meaningful.

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  9. I think it is awesome that every player wears the number 42 on April 15th each year. If it were not for pioneers in the sport like Jackie Robinson, then there would be no game of baseball today. Sure we don't honors like Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig by wearing their number on certain days, but Jackie was so instrumental in paving the way for players of his era and those since then. The Indians all wear Larry Doby's number one day one year to recognize him, and then for Opening Day this year, they all wore Bob Feller's number 19 to honor him in a pregame ceremony, and I hope they wear them for a game this year. As a fan and history buff of American history along with baseball history, I look forward to seeing every player wear the number 42 every year for one day. Thank you to Jackie for paving the way!

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  10. I think it would make more sense for one player or coach on each team to wear 42 on that day. Maybe that's just me though.

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