Why Are The Baseball Players Wearing 42?

Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated every year on April 15th, the anniversary of Robinson’s Major League debut. All players on every team wear Robinson’s number, 42, in recognition of the tremendous impact he made on and off the field.

The Significance of 42

Every year on April 15, MLB teams across the country celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. All players on every team wear Robinson’s retired number 42. Why is this number so significant? Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 when he became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.

Jackie Robinson’s Influence

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues. He went on to have an illustrious career, batting .311 and stealing Home Rookie of the Year honors in his first season. He was named National League MVP in 1949 and was a World Series champion in 1955. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Robinson’s impact extended far beyond the baseball diamond. His courageous decision to break the color barrier in baseball helped pave the way for other African Americans to pursue their dreams, in sports and beyond. Robinson’s legacy continues to inspire people around the world, and his jersey number, 42, has been retired by every Major League Baseball team.

The Number’s Significance to the Game

The number 42 was retired by all Major League Baseball teams in 1997. The number had been worn by Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American to play in the major leagues. He broke the color barrier in 1947, and his number was retired throughout the league as a tribute to his accomplishments both on and off the field.

How the Tradition Started

Every year on April 15, MLB players across the league wear the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947. Here’s a look at the history of this tradition.

Major League Baseball’s Initiatives

In 1997, Major League Baseball established the “42” program in order to promote racial diversity and equality in the sport. The initiative was started in memory of Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier. Robinson’s number 42 was retired by every MLB team in 1997, and players are encouraged to wear the number during select games each year.

The “42” program has been widely successful in promoting diversity and equality in baseball. In recent years, the number of African American and Latino players in MLB has increased significantly, and the league has made a concerted effort to hire more minority managers and coaches. MLB’s efforts have been praised by civil rights leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton.

Despite these initiatives, some critics argue that baseball still has a long way to go in terms of racial equality. African American participation in baseball is still far lower than it was in the 1970s, when Jackie Robinson first broke the color barrier. In addition, minorities still make up a small percentage of MLB managers and coaches. Nonetheless, Major League Baseball’s “42” program remains an important symbol of the league’s commitment to diversity and equality.

The Players’ Union’s Involvement

In 1997, MLB players went on strike, causing the cancellation of that year’s World Series. As part of the resultant negotiations, a decision was made to create an annual Jackie Robinson Day, on which every player would wear Robinson’s number 42. The first Jackie Robinson Day was held on April 15, 2004 – the fifty-seventh anniversary of Robinson’s Major League debut.

(From: https://www.mlb.com/news/why-are-baseball-players-wearing-42)

The Tradition Today

Every year on April 15th, Major League Baseball players around the country pay tribute to Jackie Robinson by wearing his number – 42. It’s a tradition that started in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier, and one that continues today. But why 42?

The Number’s Continued Significance

Although Robinson retired in 1957, the number 42 continued to be worn by players in his honor. Major League Baseball retired the number league-wide on April 15, 1997, which was the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s first game. On that day, every player and coach on every team wore 42. Every year on April 15, all players again wear 42 to commemorate Robinson’s historic debut.

The Players Who Wear 42

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history by becoming the first African American to play in a Major League Baseball game. In honor of Robinson’s achievements and contributions to the game, Major League Baseball issued a directive in 1997 that all players would wear #42 on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15th). The tradition continues today, with every player on every team wearing #42 during Jackie Robinson Day games.

There are currently only two active players who wear #42 full-time: Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees and Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. Since Rivera is retiring at the end of the 2013 season, Jones will be the only player remaining who wears #42 on a regular basis.