Image and article from MLB.com today
When players and fans gather at 15 Major League ballparks today, with every uniform on the field bearing the same No. 42 and ceremonies at new Citi Field leading the annual celebration of one of America's true heroes, the message will be said without a word:
All of our lives have been touched by Jackie Robinson.
Sixty-two years ago, Jackie Robinson crossed the color barrier and changed baseball forever. There may be only one of us on AN who remembers the actual moment, but the rest of us just live with the legacy. I can't remember a time when I didn't know this story; this man, and how baseball changed at that moment, for good.
Much has been written about this event, and baseball is going to celebrate in style today; highlighted with the Mets' official opening of Citi Field, and continuing at ballparks around the country.
This cannot be celebrated enough, and I hope this generation passes Jackie's legacy on to the next generation of baseball fans.
Thoughts? Stories?
The A's try for the sweep against Boston today at 12:30pm. There will be game threads avaliable for your posting pleasure.
0 recs | 39 comments
I had the Cubs/Brewers game on Sunday night
Joe Morgan actually said something I liked.
At one point when he was playing, he had the chance to meet Jackie Robinson and he told how he’d been thinking so much about what he wanted to ask him but when the moment came he froze up and couldn’t come up with a question. In the end he just said, “Thank you,” which made Robinson smile.
Flashfire - April 15, 2009
I thank Jackie too.
WaddellCanseco - April 15, 2009
I really loved that story.
baseballgirl - April 15, 2009
Jackie Robinson is the man. That is all.
Darryl P - April 15, 2009
not just baseball
with robinson acting as a catlyst, intergration spread to other sports shortly thereafter, namely basketball (college and pro). social change sometimes just needs a spark, and the courage it must have taken to make that spark is why we honor his legacy.
jaylikewise - April 15, 2009
And not just sports -- racism just isn't cool anymore.
(feel free to flag for political content)
WaddellCanseco - April 15, 2009
unless you're vice magazine
in which case it’s cool because it isn’t.
jaylikewise - April 15, 2009
I ♥ Jackie
and wish I could have seen him play.
vegAN ryAN - April 15, 2009
one of my all time heroes
OaklandSi - April 15, 2009
Jackie was Baseball's finest moment
We should remember two other key people: Branch Rickey for choosing the right man for the extremely difficult task, and Pee Wee Reese for standing beside him.
Miata71 - April 15, 2009
Absolutely.
baseballgirl - April 15, 2009
He was also damn good player.
.311/.404/.474 career stats as a 2nd baseman.
eastbayexpat - April 15, 2009
Honoring Jason Giambi's Fitness Regimen
Couldn’t find a DLD…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/090414&sportCat=mlb
gdub171 - April 15, 2009
ugggh
Giambino is not an athlete, he’s a baseball player
gdub171 - April 15, 2009
wow
according to Howard Bryant, Derek Jeter is the only major leaguer who has donated money to the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
NY on his hat notwithstanding, it’s really hard to not like Jeter.
scatterbrian - April 15, 2009
Agreed.
I may dislike the Yankees, but Jeter is a class act in every way.
baseballgirl - April 15, 2009
Just like...
…all those times “Captain” Jeter came to ARod’s defense, the way any “Team Captain” would do.
Oh wait……
rageon - April 15, 2009
Or moved to third base so his team could have the best possible infield alignment?
nevermoor - April 15, 2009
That wasn't his choice. I think that was all Yankees.
baseballgirl - April 15, 2009
meh
I guess that depends on whether or not you think Rodriguez’s actions were defensible.
scatterbrian - April 15, 2009
I feel like
Larry Doby should get some lovin’ every once in a while.
Emmett89 - April 15, 2009
Larry Doby
Doby, the first african-american to play in the AL, debuted less than 90 days after Robinson. MLB gives him little recognition. The AL should give him a day every July to honor him for the trials and tribulations he went through, which were the same as Jackie’s.
Link
athleticsBB4life - April 15, 2009
Thanks for that!
baseballgirl - April 15, 2009
my pleasure...
Doby lived the majority of his life in my home state of NJ. The NJ State Legislature honored him right before he passed away by naming a major road after him. I think he deserves much more than that!
athleticsBB4life - April 15, 2009
I thought they already did?
VORP is too nerdy - April 15, 2009
While honoring Jackie Robinson is great
And I like the number retired thing, and much of what goes on, I agree with this: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot/0-1-49/MLB-annexes-Jackie-Robinson.html
nevermoor - April 15, 2009
Yep, there's truth in that
MLB raising Jackie to sainthood level gives baseball cover to act as if everything is great. But thanks to baseballgirl and athleticsBB4life for their reminders about what Jackie and Larry Doby brought to the game. Peace.
worldblee - April 15, 2009
Off topic
Anybody have any tickets to the A’s at Mariners game on 5/2 they would like to sell? I’d rather deal with an ANer than a ticket outlet. AND Jackie and Larry were heroes in how they dealt with so much criticism and blatant hatred without reacting. Incredilbe.
A'sfansince1970 - April 15, 2009
I needs me a game thread
Landon Powell at first! Brett on the mound! A chance for a sweep! Let’s go A’s!
worldblee - April 15, 2009
Why is Crosby batting 8th ahead of Powell
Trainman - April 15, 2009
Cuz Booby is Cr-awesome!
worldblee - April 15, 2009
He actually has hit .300 lifetime against Wakefield
worldblee - April 15, 2009
Hi all!
What’s the scoop? Sometimes I post a question or comment and get no response. I’m feeling ignored. Did I do something to offend AN? If so, let me know so I can clear the air. Thanks!
A'sfansince1970 - April 15, 2009
Not every comment and question gets responded to....
Maybe no one has tickets to a game in Seattle, so they didn’t feel the need to respond to say such. Do you want us to respond and tell you we don’t have tickets?
gigglingone - April 15, 2009
weren't the red sox the final team to integrate?
make ’em pay with a sweep!
stm72 - April 15, 2009
They were and that's a great point to raise!
worldblee - April 15, 2009
Thank you, Jackie Robinson
That MLB spot was great.
Go A’s!
LongTimeFan - April 15, 2009
rich harden
3 IP, 5H, 4 BB, 4ER and 8K’s. 92 pitches, lifted from the game.
Wow, what a line.
stm72 - April 15, 2009
He's
apparently hittable, but then he strikes out 8 in 3 innings.
VORP is too nerdy - April 15, 2009
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