Griffey to honor Jackie Robinson

by Sportszilla on Apr 4, 2007 5:16 PM PDT

Just saw that Ken plans to wear number 42 on April 15 as a way to honor the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

But why stop there? Why not turn this into a grand gesture which would really illustrate what baseball owes Robinson? Sometimes it feels like baseball sort of half-asses these things, but they certainly got it right when they universally retired 42 ten years ago.

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Do we really need to go balls out in tributes

every year? I mean, really, what significance does the 60th anniversary actually have? I think the fact that MLB mentions it at all is enough.

by Matthew on Apr 4, 2007 5:25 PM PDT reply actions

Disagree

Whether or not the anniversary "means anything" isn't the point. Robinson's legacy means something, and I can't see how it would be bad to make everyone (players and fans) reflect upon that.

Kickass Sports Writing - Sportszilla and the Jabber Jocks - www.sportszillablog.com

by Sportszilla on Apr 4, 2007 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I contend they already do

w/o having to make a big show about it.

by Matthew on Apr 4, 2007 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Given the fact that...

...there are fewer and fewer African-Americans playing baseball today than there were even 20 years ago, I do think it's good to highlight Jackie Robinson's contribution whenever possible.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 4, 2007 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you think mentioning Jackie Robinson

a lot is going to get black kids to play baseball? Because I don't see it. I certainly agree that MLB needs to do something about the drain to the NBA and NFL on black talent, but I don't think honoring Jackie Robinson a lot is the answer.

by Matthew on Apr 4, 2007 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

You really think

black talent is being underrepresented in sports. I don't think there is much of a barrier that anybody needs to overcome to get into sports. Sure, there are other places in society that it is a problem. How about instead of encouraging young people to just pursue sports, we start pushing college?

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 4, 2007 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't say "in sports"...

...I said in baseball. Most other sports are well represented by the African-American community, but, off the top of your head, quickly, name 10 current black major leaguers. It can be done, but it takes a fair bit of thought to get there.

Anything that can be done to encourage young African-Americans to play the game should be done, and highlighting the history of the first one to do it seems a decent enough place to start - and what's wrong with honoring a pioneer?

As for barriers, baseball probably presents the highest barriers for inner-city, poor kids of any color - baseball's alone in the three "major" sports in needing a fair amount of specialized equipment to play it, and there's also a shortage of baseball diamonds in poorer areas, so there are actually fairly significant barriers. Any ball can be used as a basketball, but you gotta buy a baseball bat and a glove in order to learn to play baseball.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 5, 2007 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions

And now it's tainted

Bonds will wear 42, as well.

by Corco on Apr 4, 2007 5:31 PM PDT reply actions

On another note

On the official site's 40-man roster, it now lists Jones's number as 24.

WTF

by Corco on Apr 4, 2007 5:33 PM PDT reply actions

Eh why not?

They won't retire his number until after he goes into the Hall anyways. So why not let Jones wear it while he still can?

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Because at this point

Jones is <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<<<<<<Griffey

by Corco on Apr 4, 2007 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Obviously, but so what?

Griffey is still playing, so IMO it's fair game until he retires.

And besides if your gonna give it to somebody, yeah might as well give it to our top prospect, who is also a young good centerfielder.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Dear Corco

Randy Johnson is a Mariner legend and I couldn't give two shits.

Signed
Ichiro, the REAL #51

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions

It's also disingenous

Since they won't let anyone else wear 11 even though they haven't retired Edgar's number either.

Kickass Sports Writing - Sportszilla and the Jabber Jocks - www.sportszillablog.com

by Sportszilla on Apr 4, 2007 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

The difference is, Edgar is retired, Griffey is

still playing. When Griffey retires, then you can take away the number.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

But if Jones

comes up, becomes a superstar, then you can't take away his number.

Let's reissue 14 (Piniella), or 19 (Buhner) before we reissue 24

by Corco on Apr 4, 2007 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Says who?

I'm pretty sure he'll understand.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions

well to be fair

I thought they wouldn't let anyone wear #6 so soon after Dan Wilson retired, but there you have it.

I am pretty surprised on the #24 though -- that one seems pretty sacred to the team.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Richie should commemorate all of funk

and wear #69. Then hit another funk blast.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 5:45 PM PDT reply actions

If Richie could

I'm sure he'd be wearing 42 with an amazing psychedilic boomstick.

by TyranT on Apr 4, 2007 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

With FUNKBLASTER FLASH on his back

by Gomez on Apr 5, 2007 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions

OMG

That would be so AWESOME. I wonder if MLB has regs against a psychadelic swirly painted bat? Richie would use it... if we all asked him to nicely enough.

Probably not permitted though... something akin to the Arthur Rhodes "no bling allowed" rules.

by johnbai on Apr 5, 2007 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Jackie Robinson deserves every honor he gets

Those of you who don't think that Jackie Robinson 1947 is that big of a deal, read some history. For god sakes, the man broke into an all white sport(THE sport, the national pastime! Nothing else was even close in popularity at the time.) at a time when we were a decade and a half from black people actually being allowed to vote in parts of the country without poll taxes and literacy tests and the like. We aren't all that far removed from white people harassing black people out of certain towns and neighborhoods because of their skin color. Read the book "Sundown Towns" by James Loewen and you will see what I mean. I mean black people were still being called "Negroes" back then, and that was supposed to be polite. I think there should be more recognition for Larry Doby too, who broke the AL color barrier not long after Jackie joined the Dodgers.

by Go Manures on Apr 5, 2007 12:34 AM PDT reply actions

This is just an homage thing

It's a nice gesture, but nothing to get worked up about.

MLB does overkill the homages, to where no one notices half the time, so I wish they'd pick their spots a bit better (like this would be a good spot), but okay.

by Gomez on Apr 5, 2007 8:51 AM PDT reply actions