Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball commemorates the legacy of the moment the player broke the color barrier, but it all comes together with a unique dynamic: players wear #42. And how did this idea come about?
After MLB established that beginning with the 2005 season, every year ‘Jackie Robinson Day would be celebrated in all games, in 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. spoke with commissioner Bud Selig to ask for permission to use the number 42 in that celebration.
We recommend Jackie Robinson’s debut. The day that changed history. At that moment, Griffey received permission from Rachel, Jackie’s widow, and Selig embraced the gesture of the then Cincinnati Reds player. After that, the player went further and asked the other teams to have a player wear number 42 in that day’s game. Although it was a special request and with good intentions, it was an issue that caused some controversy. Still, finally, for the 2009 campaign, Major League Baseball established that all players and uniformed members of the teams would wear #42 that day.
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