Major League Baseball has honored Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier every April 15 since 2004, and the tradition will continue Friday with a special celebration involving all 30 teams.
Robinson became the first African-American to play in MLB on April 15, 1947, making Friday’s event the 69th anniversary of that historic moment.
Ahead of the 13th annual Jackie Robinson Day, MLB Communications provided a look at the logo that will be featured at ballparks throughout the major leagues:
It was also announced on MLB.com that Robinson will be recognized in myriad ways throughout the day, including the use of his No. 42 jersey number.
While the No. 42 is retired across the league, an exception is made every Jackie Robinson Day, as all players don the number in a show of respect for one of the true trailblazers in baseball, sports and life in general.
The New York Yankees were among the teams to show off the special uniforms prior to Friday’s anticipated festivities:
Major League Baseball also committed to having even more involvement with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, as seen in this statement from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred:
All MLB ballparks will feature commemorative bases and lineup cards, and at Dodger Stadium, Robinson’s wife Rachel and daughter Sharon will be featured in an on-field ceremony.
Friday marks Dave Roberts’ first Jackie Robinson Day as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he fully intends to appreciate how special and important the event is, according to ESPN.com’s Doug Padilla.
“I think that I am a little bit, to a fault, not taking certain moments in, but I think I will make a conscious effort [Friday] to understand and take in the scope and the magnitude. It’s a big deal,” Roberts said. “Jackie has obviously impacted me and many others. I think that I’m going to take some extra time to reflect for sure.”
While the wearing of No. 42 is a fantastic tradition that pays proper homage to one of the all-time greats, it isn’t the only Robinson-related apparel that players will wear Friday.
As seen in this tweet courtesy of ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Adidas-sponsored athletes will wear special cleats featuring photos of Robinson, his iconic No. 42 and some of his most famous quotes:
Jackie Robinson Day isn’t limited solely to Major League Baseball, as the UCLA Bruins baseball team is taking part too.
Robinson starred in baseball, basketball, football and track at UCLA, and the Bruins are set to take the field against the Washington Huskies on Friday in old-school threads to remember one of the biggest legends in school history.
UCLA Baseball shared a photo of the Brooklyn Dodgers-inspired unis on Twitter:
Robinson changed the sport of baseball forever when he broke the color barrier, but he made an even bigger impact as one of the symbols of the civil rights movement.
Even aside from the transcendent meaning of his MLB debut, the Hall of Famer was a truly great player with a .311 career batting average and six All-Star appearances to his credit.
Robinson continues to inspire people of all races well beyond his untimely death in 1972, and Major League Baseball has done an admirable job of keeping his memory alive.
Jackie Robinson Day is the perfect way to do that, as it will remind many of Robinson’s greatness, while also introducing him to a whole new generation of fans.
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