Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day in the Major League Baseball; April 15, 1947 was the day Robinson first played in the majors. I was lucky enough to be at the game at Shea Stadium in 1997 when Robinson’s number was retired for all teams. President Clinton spoke to the crowd and Robinson’s wife was on hand for the ceremony. Unfortunately the game was not a sellout. I do not think people respect how much Jackie Robinson had to go through when he broke the color barrier, the league and teams should do as much as possible to educate fans about his efforts.
Players are allowed to wear #42 on April 15 each season. Yesterday 9 teams opted to have
everyone wear the number to honor Robinson; the Red Sox were not one of them. David Ortiz, Coco Crisp, and coach DeMarlo Hale were the only members of the team to wear #42. This is sad when you consider that the Red Sox were the last team in the majors to integrate; a full 12 years after Robinson joined the Dodgers. The Sox held a tryout for Robinson in 1945 but management was quoted as saying, “Get that nigger off the field.” When the new ownership took control of the Red Sox they promised to do more to recognize the problems of the past. Red Sox owner John Henry said the following:
“I think we have to make a statement not just in baseball but in our community that diversity is an issue that hasn’t been fully addressed in the past and certainly has to be fully addressed.”
The Red Sox have expanded their annual tribute to Robinson on his birthday but it takes place in the middle of the winter and gets little exposure.
The New York Mets have dedicated the entry way to their new stadium to Robinson, why can’t the Red Sox all wear #42 for one day? They could wear an advertisement on their sleeves in Japan but not come together to do the right thing on April 15th.
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