Charlie Klein
One of the greatest athletes of all-time will be celebrated today and tomorrow at stadiums all around Major League Baseball as the league salutes Jackie Robinson, the first African American player to play in MLB.
The main location of celebration will be Yankee Stadium, where Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson, and his daughter Sharon will be in attendance.
I will not bore you with retelling the story of Jackie's career, as it is pretty well-known. But I would like to reiterate the importance of celebrating the diversity that he helped usher into the game we all love today. While it truly took far too long to integrate baseball, it began a tide of integration around the nation. Six years before the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated separate but equal and ordered the integration of U.S. public schools, Robinson broke into America's most sacred game.
On this day all players around the league wear the number 42 as a show of solidarity. Mariners designated hitter Ken Griffey Junior petitioned commissioner Bud Selig three years ago to be allowed to wear the number himself and to allow players to wear it at their own discretion. This led to every player wearing the number, so when you tune in to watch your favorite team today or tomorrow, do not get confused as to why every player is wearing 42.
This can also lead to fun comments like "42 is really hitting the ball well today" or "I think 42's not been having his best game out there."
When you watch baseball tonight or tomorrow, take a few minutes to reflect on the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
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