It seems silly to ask, but a few players -- Torii Hunter and C.C. Sabathia among them -- are complaining that the more than 150 players set to sport Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on Sunday is
watering down the honor:
"This is supposed to be an honor," Hunter told USA Today, "and just a handful of guys wearing the number. 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," Hunter told the newspaper.
"It kind of waters it down," Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia told USA Today. "I could see the Dodgers since that was his team, but not everyone else."
Ken Griffey Jr. seems to disagree with that sentiment:
"I didn't know so many guys planned to wear the number. I sure wasn't expecting whole teams to wear it," Griffey told the newspaper of his gesture-turned-movement. "But I'm not going to look at it as a negative. This is a tribute for what the man has done, a day to celebrate."
To be honest, I'm a bit confused by Hunter and Sabathia's opinions here. Robinson stood for inclusiveness, for equality, and isn't that something everyone should want to honor? I truly hope the players wearing Robinson's number aren't doing so simply as a fad or a trend as Hunter says, but because they believe in what Jackie stood for. If that's the case, then the more No. 42's, the better.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
maybe the other half that wear #42 could wear #21,how do we forget what Roberto's impact on todays baseball players represent. Peace
jackie robinson was a tremendous ball player, depite all the taunts he handled it like the gentleman that he was. He had heart, guts and talent. Is the number so important???
Jackie Robinson stood for equality of opportuntity and not equality of results. He was not itereted in being equal, just being the best that he could be.
John Minton
Perhaps Sabathia and others making negative comments about players wearing Jackie Robinson's number could straighten up their own act, i.e. wearing their caps in the proper manner and blousing their pants to some degree, etc.
How about baseball players wearing 007 in honor of James Bond? As I said once and I will say it again the reason Major League Baseball honor Jackie Robinson as it should is to recruit African Americans to play baseball instead of basketball or football.
Or maybe it's because it's the 60th Anniversary of Robinson's first game. Or maybe it's because Ken Griffey Jr. asked Bud Selig for permission to wear the number. Hmm.
overkill
Who cares! I can name 50 players of the top of my head better than him. Teams should start wearing their numbers instead of some hyped up media personality like Jackie Robinson. Get over it.
Jackie Robinson is a "hyped up media personality"? I can't believe a person would actually say that. Obviously you miss the point of the entire move to honor Jackie Robinson. Whether or not he is a great player, even though he was, has little to do with the decision to honor him. He risked his life and broke the color barrier in professional baseball. I highly doubt you would be brave enough to risk your life for anything. You make what I consider an almost racist statement, but do so anonymously. Not brave at all. Jackie Robinson... now HE was brave. And he deserves to be honored, by as many people and in as many ways as possible.
hello,
jackie who
I believe every game played that day should have a video and some kind of celebration honoring "JACKIE" Now I also believe his number should be worn only by those who already had it. I know Mariano Rivera is one who still bears that number. Maybe have the number posted in every on deck circle or centerfield for that day. The number is happily retired to a man who made this country open there eyes....Roberto Clemente #21 should be next. He died helping people in need. Hey maybe a noble peace prize sounds good too....Oh yes one more thing Pete Rose should b inducted....no doubt. If someone gets inducted after using steroids then here's a player who gambled as a manager not player and even though who can hit like he did.....Who?
IT IS A NICE SIGN OF RESPECT FOR WHAT JACKIE ROBINSON DID. BUT DONT FORGET THE MEN LIKE PEE WEE REESE WHO ACCEPTED JACKIE AS A TEAMMATE WHILE OTHERS WERE STUPID, AND MISTER RICKLEY WHO CAUSED AL THIS
Hyped up media personality are you a moron or a racist or both? Well by your name you probably are both Mr. yo yo yo. I am a white male who is sick of all the racist crap going on on both sides of the aisle and giving tribute to Jackie after all that he went through to change the face of baseball and change the minds of many is a great thing!
When Mr. Robinson retired and if that team - or teams he played with - honored him by retiring his number, then those teams are the ones who should not issue a 42 numbered uniform. If someone get a 42, maybe a thought or two about Jackie Robinson and his life. To honor this good man by trying to live as he did in a controveral nation of that time would be a great goal. Many of us not wearing any uniform should hope to be a better because of examples set by Mr. Robinson.
DO YOU NEED A #42 SHITR TO HONOR JACKIE? GO TO
WWW.TONYDEEsNEGROLEAGUE.COM
OR JUST CLICK THE TONY DEE ABOVE
Having been born and lived in the earshot of Ebbets
Field - today was special. It doesn't matter how many players chose to wear 42. it doesn't matter how many teams chose this. What matters is the importance of the now and future generations learning the history andthe understanding that both Jackie, and a white man in Branch Rickey; chose to end this ban in MLB.
The importance that it transmitted TO ALL INDUSTRIES because of the impact in the public eyes, is the true meaning. I am a white male who as a child in Brooklyn in the 1950's wore number 42 proudly.
Please, everyone; this was not just a baseball statement by some very gutsy people, teamates and executives. This was a statement for this nation going forward way before MLK.