Keep No. 42 where it belongs
by Michael LoRe
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Sports
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That same day, Ken Griffey Jr. donned Robinson's No. 42, with the consent of Rachel Robinson - Jackie's wife - and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. He was the only player besides New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera to wear the number that day. Rivera is the only player who wears No. 42 on a daily basis because the number was given to him before it was retired.
Griffey and Selig talked about doing it again this year when the idea to allow other players around the league to wear the number came up.
"I think everybody should be able to wear it who wants to wear that number," Griffey said in an April 5 Associated Press article.
So this year, at least one player from each team honored Robinson by wearing his number on Sunday - Jackie Robinson Day. Players like Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis, Colorado Rockies pitcher LaTroy Hawkins and Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones wore No 42. Even New York Mets manager Willie Randolph planned to put away his regular jersey for the day and take part in honoring Robinson, but the Mets-Nationals game was rained out.
Every player on the Dodgers, Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, Phillies and Pirates planned to wear No. 42, hopefully not confusing commentators and statisticians. Unfortunately, the Phillies, Astros and Pirates games were postponed.
Recently, players have expressed positive and negative reactions towards the measurements Major League Baseball took Sunday to honor the Hall of Fame second baseman.
In an April 5 Denver Post article, Hawkins said he did not feel worthy enough to wear Robinson's number on Jackie Robinson Day.
"We owe him so much," Hawkins said. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be playing this game."
While players like Hawkins have nothing but praise toward Robinson and are honored to wear his number Sunday, other players like Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter think it is too much of a good thing.
"This is supposed to be an honor and just a handful of guys wearing the number," Hunter said in a USA Today article. "Now you've got entire teams doing it. I think we're killing the meaning.
"It should be special wearing Jackie's number, not just because it looks cool," he said.
Watching the pre-game ceremony at Dodger Stadium Sunday night, No. 42 logos were on everything from microphones to podiums and even robes worn by a church choir who sang a special Jackie Robinson-version of "Oh Happy Day."
Can you say too much of a good thing?
To me, that's pushing it. I think it is enough that players and managers are wearing his number, but using it to decorate objects is too far of a stretch.
It was great to see Major League Baseball, now an extremely multi-ethnic and multi-cultural sport, honor Jackie Robinson for the things he not only did statistically as a player, but socially as a black man. The celebration just showed how much the once all-white sport has evolved as players and coaches of all races looked past skin color to honor a great.
But what will be the next step taken for the 100-year anniversary? Are players going to get "42" tattooed on their arms?
In an ESPN interview on Sunday, director Spike Lee questioned what people are doing to make Robinson's legacy mean something today.
"He's a great symbol," Lee said. "A lot of times symbols get pimped."
Pimped. That's exactly what Major League Baseball did Sunday to No. 42. Numbers in sports should only be for uniforms, banners and stat sheets.
Let's keep it that way.
Forty years from now, I'd love to see every MLB player and coach wearing the number, but I don't want to see it on office supplies. Cutting the number into the outfield grass will suffice.
Michael LoRe is a sports editor at The Review. Send questions, comments and a Jackie Robinson bobblehead doll to mlore@udel.edu.
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