The Integration Of Baseball:The Challenge Of Jackie Robinson
Tributes
On April 15,1997, 50 years to the day of Jackie Robinson's debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, all players in the Major League Baseball (MLB) wore the number 42 on their jersey. After this the number 42, Jackie Robinson's number, was never to be worn by a player again in MLB. But in 2007, after Reds player Ken Griffey Jr petitioned the league for the right to wear the number, and after his sucessful petition all players were once again allowed to wear the number if if they wanted to.
“With all Major League players, coaches and umpires wearing Jackie’s No. 42, we hope to demonstrate the magnitude of his impact on the game of baseball,” said MLB commissioner Bud Selig. “Major League Baseball will never forget the contributions that Jackie made both on and off the field.” In 2007 tributes for Robinson will be centered for the first time in New York, where he spent his entire 10-year career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson’s widow, Rachel, and other family members, appeared at the dedication ceremony for the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the entrance of Citi Field, the Mets’ new ballpark. The rotunda features a statue of Robinson and “inscriptions and images that relate Robinson’s nine treasured values: courage, excellence, persistence, justice, teamwork, commitment, citizenship, determination and integrity,” wrote MLB.com. “This is a tribute to Jack that in a million years he would’ve never have thought anyone would do. It feels very spiritual to me,” said Rachel Robinson. Robinson was also honored in Kansas City, where he played one year with the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs before being signed by Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is hosted a week-long program called “Before he was #42,” which included photographs and memorabilia from Robinson’s days with the Monarchs, as well as lectures, roundtable discussion and other events.
“With all Major League players, coaches and umpires wearing Jackie’s No. 42, we hope to demonstrate the magnitude of his impact on the game of baseball,” said MLB commissioner Bud Selig. “Major League Baseball will never forget the contributions that Jackie made both on and off the field.” In 2007 tributes for Robinson will be centered for the first time in New York, where he spent his entire 10-year career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson’s widow, Rachel, and other family members, appeared at the dedication ceremony for the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the entrance of Citi Field, the Mets’ new ballpark. The rotunda features a statue of Robinson and “inscriptions and images that relate Robinson’s nine treasured values: courage, excellence, persistence, justice, teamwork, commitment, citizenship, determination and integrity,” wrote MLB.com. “This is a tribute to Jack that in a million years he would’ve never have thought anyone would do. It feels very spiritual to me,” said Rachel Robinson. Robinson was also honored in Kansas City, where he played one year with the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs before being signed by Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is hosted a week-long program called “Before he was #42,” which included photographs and memorabilia from Robinson’s days with the Monarchs, as well as lectures, roundtable discussion and other events.
Jackie Robinson's Picture on a wall
