Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the integration of Baseball on April 15th 1947, the entire Dodgers team will be wearing Jackie Robinson’s number 42.
“If they can fight & die in. . .The South Pacific, they can play ball in America.”
One year before President Truman desegregated the military, and a full seven years before school integration, a single player broke the color barrier in baseball. Hand picked for the task by Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, Jack Roosevelt Robinson (1919-1972) played his first major league game with the Dodgers on April 15th 1947. Despite an unimpressive debut, Robinson went on to be selected Rookie of the Year, MVP two years later and was ultimately inducted into the Hall of fame at his earliest possible moment of eligibility.
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
Sixty years ago, Robinson made an impact not only on his sport, but his country, and perhaps the world as well. Today, his former team acknowledges that impact by wearing his No. 42 jersey in his honor. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig agreed to a request by Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. to honor Robinson by temporarily taking his number out of retirement. Other teams may use the jersey as well.
Robinson Memorabelia
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for these jerseys to make their way to the collectibles marketplace, and how much money they will bring. Robinson’s baseball cards remain fairly strong in the marketplace, which may experience an upturn due to the anniversary.
