Spring Break
Jackie Robinson continues to have impact on sports world
Matt Schirano
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Sports
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Baseball made a good gesture when it held Jackie Robinson day last Sunday, April 15. Like Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is important that our society has the opportunity to reflect on our history. It is through these moments of reflection that we learn to appreciate how much things have changed, as well as re-commit ourselves to furthering equality in all aspects of life.
The integration of baseball in 1947 symbolized the beginning of America's conscious battle against racism, and Jackie Robinson's courageous decision paved the way for other brave souls who would withstand the dehumanizing bombardment of racial hatred in an attempt to further the cause for civil rights. I believe Major League Baseball did the right thing when it made the entire week leading up to the moment a media frenzy of Jackie Robinson memorials, as well as allowing any players and teams to wear his old number, 42.
The festivities climaxed Sunday night at Dodger stadium when they played host to the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers were the team that Jackie Robinson had debuted for 60 years earlier when they played in Brooklyn. Before the game, Robinson's wife Rachel was honored for her contributions to baseball as well as preserving the legacy and impact of her husband. Since his death 35 years ago, she has continued to fight against racism in American society. It was stated numerous times (the drawback of Jackie Robinson Day was the insane redundancy) that without the help of Rachel, Jackie would never have been able to withstand the turbulence of being the first African-American baseball player. While being interviewed in the broadcast booth during the game by Joe Morgan, she said that she attended every home game because she wanted him to look up and see at least one smile.
Besides the redundancy, the only other drawback to the evening was perhaps the over exaggeration of Jackie Robinson's on-field abilities. Now, granted I never saw the man play, and most highlights are of him famously stealing home base, but it's just a bad idea to claim that a single player dominated in all aspects of the game more than any person ever. Over the course of the game, I heard that Jackie Robinson was the greatest at all of these: base running, fielding, hitting, pitching, catching, coaching and playing with one hand while wearing a blind fold and ear muffs.
The integration of baseball in 1947 symbolized the beginning of America's conscious battle against racism, and Jackie Robinson's courageous decision paved the way for other brave souls who would withstand the dehumanizing bombardment of racial hatred in an attempt to further the cause for civil rights. I believe Major League Baseball did the right thing when it made the entire week leading up to the moment a media frenzy of Jackie Robinson memorials, as well as allowing any players and teams to wear his old number, 42.
The festivities climaxed Sunday night at Dodger stadium when they played host to the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers were the team that Jackie Robinson had debuted for 60 years earlier when they played in Brooklyn. Before the game, Robinson's wife Rachel was honored for her contributions to baseball as well as preserving the legacy and impact of her husband. Since his death 35 years ago, she has continued to fight against racism in American society. It was stated numerous times (the drawback of Jackie Robinson Day was the insane redundancy) that without the help of Rachel, Jackie would never have been able to withstand the turbulence of being the first African-American baseball player. While being interviewed in the broadcast booth during the game by Joe Morgan, she said that she attended every home game because she wanted him to look up and see at least one smile.
Besides the redundancy, the only other drawback to the evening was perhaps the over exaggeration of Jackie Robinson's on-field abilities. Now, granted I never saw the man play, and most highlights are of him famously stealing home base, but it's just a bad idea to claim that a single player dominated in all aspects of the game more than any person ever. Over the course of the game, I heard that Jackie Robinson was the greatest at all of these: base running, fielding, hitting, pitching, catching, coaching and playing with one hand while wearing a blind fold and ear muffs.
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