Jackie Robinson Day

I'd like to wish everybody a Happy April 15! That means one of three things:

1. Happy Birthday Ryan!
2. Shit! Did I pay my taxes? (yes I did)
3. Jackie Robinson Day.

On this day back in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first player to break baseball's color barrier when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a monumental step forward for the game and one that should be celebrated annually. Not only should it be celebrated, it should be celebrated at every park in Major League Baseball that is hosting a game on Jackie Robinson Day.

With all of that said, MLB couldn't have screwed this whole celebration up any more if they'd tried. I take that back, I'm sure they could make it worse if they wanted to, and they probably will in future seasons. On Jackie Robinson Day every season, every player and coach on every major league roster and the umpires for every single game will be wearing the number 42.

On April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier, MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced that the number 42 would be retired league wide. The exception to that rule were players that were already wearing the number 42. They would be allowed to continue using the number. It's been 14 years since that announcement and there is only one player left in the league still wearing the number. That's Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Even though it's his right to continue using the number, I personally think he's a little selfish for continuing to use the number. However that's a different argument for a different day.

In 2007, Ken Griffey, Jr. asked MLB for permission to wear the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day as a tribute to the man and his accomplishments. Once he was granted permission from Selig and Rachel Robinson (the widow of Jackie Robinson), Selig extended the offer to all major league clubs. During this period, players were not required to wear the number 42 but had the option to do so if they wanted to. Starting in 2009, all players, coaches and umpires were required to wear the number. That tradition continues today.

As great of an occasioin as Jackie Robinson Day is, the tradition of everybody wearing the number 42 is completely stupid and over the top. It makes it extremely hard, if not impossible, to tell who anybody is on the field. To make things harder, players do not wear their last names on the back of their jerseys for Jackie Robinson Day, just the number 42. Why can't players just wear a special sleeve patch to commemorate the occasion? They could even make it a hat patch as well if they wanted to. It has the same effect, yet looks far less stupid.

Like I said before, Jackie Robinson Day is a great occasion that should be celebrated by everybody in baseball. You'll never hear me say that it shouldn't be. They just need to find a better way to do it.

I'd like to give a quick thank you to Jackie Robinson for his dedication to the game of baseball. He really helped to shape the game of baseball, and pretty much every other sport for that matter, into what it is today. So I tip my cap to you Jackie. Thank you for a job well done!