MLB was perilously close to losing this year’s Jackie Robinson tag due to extended lockout negotiations, but a well-timed settlement saved the league’s 162-game season and one of the most important days on the league calendar.
Jackie Robinson Day, celebrated on April 15 each year, commemorates the day Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier with his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. The league began celebrating this day in 2004, and by 2009 it was every player, coach and referee wearing the No. 42 for a day.
MLB has continued to celebrate this year and has done some things it had never done before.
All MLB teams wore Dodger Blue for Jackie Robinson Day
While teams have worn 42 on Jackie Robinson Day for years, the league’s 30 teams changed that tradition by wearing the number in Dodger Blue, regardless of the team’s traditional color scheme.
The teams also wore a special patch to commemorate the occasion and No. 42 socks.
Yes, even the San Francisco Giants.
Some players, like New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, extended the #42 to their gloves and cleats.
New York institutes Jackie Robinson Way
In New York, the city of Robinson’s debut teamed with MLB to declare that 42nd Street and Broadway will be temporarily renamed “Jackie Robinson Way.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Robinson’s eldest granddaughter Sonya Pankey, and MLB Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr., Mariano Rivera and Joe Torre were all present at the ceremony where the street sign and a giant #42 were unveiled.
New York Deputy Mayor for Economic and Employment Development Maria Torres-Springer appeared on behalf of Mayor Eric Adams’ office for the unveiling:
From MLB.com:
“I wanted to wear it to honor this man for the sacrifices he made [made] and what he did. Without him my father might never have played. Maybe I never would have played,” Griffey said. “I can’t imagine what he went through and I don’t have to go through this because this man did it for us and he did it for this country. He did it for each of us so we could go out and play the game we love.”
The story goes on
Negro Leagues Museum opens Barrier Breakers exhibit at Dodger Stadium
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, where Robinson played for the Negro Leagues’ Kansas City Monarchs, announced a new touring exhibit entitled Barrier Breakers: From Jackie to Pumpsie.
The exhibit opened at Dodger Stadium in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. According to the museum, it chronicles all players who broke their respective MLB team’s color barrier, beginning with Robinson and ending with Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, who debuted for the Red Sox in 1959.
Jackie Robinson’s widow visits Dodger Stadium
As usual, Dodger Stadium went all out with its pregame ceremony, including an appearance by Jackie’s wife, Rachel Robinson.
Robinson’s son David also spoke to the team outside the stadium next to his father’s statue before the game.
All MLB wears the #42 on Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)