Jackie Robinson

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 6, 2004, 5:04 pm

You can of course read the entire bit at ESPN under the MLB section. But I wondered what some of your thoughts are.

Basically, MLB has retired Jackie Robinson's number of 42, forever, save Mariano Rivera, who wears it in tribute...when he retires, it is gone.

ESPN is proposing what they call a Living Memorial...each year there will be a Jackie Robinson award at the end of the season, to the player that most exemplifies the spirit of Robinson. That one player will wear the number 42 for the next season, until the award is given again.

They've even put thought into how the players are judged and how to award it.

Bud Selig, MLB El Presidente for Life, more or less side stepped it, but ESPN is trying to gain fan support. Anyways, whether or not you want to go and give them support or not, that's your choice...I just want to hear what you think!

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 6, 2004, 5:38 pm

How often do baseball players come along that merit comparison to Jackie Robinson?...Lemme think there's Jackie Robinson...Thats about all I can think of...

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 6, 2004, 6:04 pm

Here, quoted straight of ESPN's page.

The Jackie Robinson "42" Award, an honor that embodies all that Robinson meant to his sport and to fellow man ... to be worn one season at a time by the one player who exemplifies the best of Robinson's attributes: Courage. Dignity. Excellence. Respect. Sportsmanship. Sacrifice. This player would have the honor of reminding both the public and his peers of Robinson's historic role in baseball and this country. Wearing No. 42 would be baseball's most special recognition.

That player would be chosen by a process that would assure that the No. 42 Award winner is a man who personifies the spirit of Jackie Robinson, the man, the soldier, the pioneer, the inspiration.

Let us be reminded of Robinson by the eagerly anticipated announcement of each season's winner and by that admirable player's presence, 42 on his back, on the field. Let the parents who treat their children to the game point to the only No. 42 and explain what it means and why that player deserves their admiration.

You can read the whole piece by clicking here.

Waran · Post by **Waran** » February 6, 2004, 6:27 pm

Dumb...gimmic.

Honor Jackie Robinson's number/memory/accomplishments by just retiring the number, never to be worn again. Even go as far as honoring a player that most represents the spirit of Jackie Robinson at the seasons end. But leave it at that, not seeing the number every year is a great honor in and of itself.

You could say that Wayne Gretsky had his number retired (Granted, he's no where near the level of what Jackie did for the sport of Baseball compared to hockey) but you don't see his number being sported around every year on a different player because they won "The Wayne Gretsky award."

They should do the same, retire the number and allow no substitutes.

Post by **Sylvus** » February 6, 2004, 6:37 pm

I think it's a pretty cool idea actually.

Just think, some people might want the honor of wearing number 42 and might strive to exemplify "Courage. Dignity. Excellence. Respect. Sportsmanship. Sacrifice." I think we could use a bit more of that in professional sports these days.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 6, 2004, 6:46 pm

I do think that something to keep our memories of his contributions alive in a real way is called for. This coming from a guy who has never liked baseball at all. Jackie Robinson very much trancends the totality of his sport.

Maybe something on the order of putting the number 42 on every official MLB uniform like small numbers on the back of the cap etc...Thus reminding folks of his merits without likening any one person to him?

I just cannot imagine that there is anually one person who personifies the "spirit of Jackie Robinson, the man, the soldier, the pioneer, the inspiration."...

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » February 6, 2004, 8:28 pm

I think it's a neat idea, but I can't imagine the implementation of it. Who would have won it this past year?

I can't really think of any players who merited such an award. I bet they would just give it to Derek Jeter, and god that would piss me off.

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » February 6, 2004, 9:27 pm

I don't really like it. Jackie Robinson had this reputation for his entire career, giving his number to some guy that was a good sport for one season isn't really up to par of the number 42.

Aevian Dreaklear · Post by **Aevian Dreaklear** » February 7, 2004, 2:10 am

I kind of like this idea in theory but here's my problem with that. You give a guy this recognition. Then what happens if one of these guys is found out for using steroids, or punching his wife, or racist acts, etc. Then it's kinda tarnishing the whole thing. For me, my view on sports is that there is a grand culture of tradition in sports. I think retiring his jersey for all of baseball is a good way to honor his memory already. Maybe if they awarded this like every 3 seasons or so? I do like the originality of this idea though. Good for whoever thought this up.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 7, 2004, 5:19 pm

Retiring his jersey is a great honor, yes. The idea behind this is to keep Jackie Robinson forever alive in our game of baseball, instead of a faded memory. I guarantee you that probably half of the kids that are playing little league baseball now have no clue who he is.

I think it's a good idea. And I think it depends on how the media handles the person each year as to whether it takes away from Jackie or not.

So yes, I'll qualify my support with a statement that it could be f'd up severely.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » February 9, 2004, 12:19 pm

i don't think it will work.

too many bad things can happen if this actually gets approved.

just retire the number and maybe the 42nd game of every stadium for every season have a nice tribute ceremony or something.

and i like the idea of wearing the number 42 (a much smaller version) somewhere on all uniforms.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » February 9, 2004, 1:00 pm

I wonder what will happen when a player doesn't want to wear the number 42. I would probably be like the Seinfeld episode where Kramer doesn't want to wear the ribbon.

You don't want the number 42? We'll teach you to wear the number 42

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » February 11, 2004, 9:44 am

It is not a bad idea. Like one of the Sylvii said, anything that might actually encourage sports players to strive to be better people is definitely welcome.

I can think of a few through the years that would have been deserving and I am sure I am missing some obvious ones. Roberto Clemente and Dale Murphy come to mind as the type of players that might have gotten something like this. Was the 80's really the era when the players stopped caring about anyone but themselves?

Deward · Post by **Deward** » February 11, 2004, 11:46 am

Admitedly I hate the current incarnation of baseball but I think this is a stupid idea. I know of no players today that are worthy of wearing 42. By allowing a different player every year to wear it, then the mystique of the number gets diluted and less meaningful. The tiny number is a much better idea but I would go with the 42nd game tribute. Either way it won't make me watch baseball again. Only 6 months till football again *sigh*

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » February 11, 2004, 12:08 pm

Not many people come to mind who deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Jackie Robinson in today's game. One who stands out is Shawn Green. He certainly has my vote. His on the field accomplishments are incredible, as are his off-field actions with the community. Does anyone else come close?

Considering the tolerance in the game today, and society for that matter, it's impossible for someone to have the same impact on the game that Robinson did.

Post by **Sylvus** » February 11, 2004, 12:50 pm

True, it would be difficult to find good examples of who should win this award. I think Kilmoll was spot on when he said Roberto Clemente and Dale Murphy. They don't necessarily need to award it every year, how about just when people come along that truly deserve it?

It could be something that is voted on every year, and if one person doesn't receive X number or % of the votes, no one wins it that year.