April 15 is a date that means many things to many people. For some it’s the tax deadline. For residents of Washington D.C. its Emancipation Day. For baseball fans it’s Jackie Robinson Day, the day Jackie Robinson integrating Major League Baseball forever changing the game, the United States of America, and the world. Simply by taking the field and playing a game, professionally, he changed the way that African-Americans would be seen on the world stage. He was 28-years-old, the year was 1947 and he wore the number 42. 

The absolute number of everything, the number 42, is the only number that is retired throughout the league. It stands as a stark reminder that 75 years ago, the game that is played by many, wasn’t actually for everyone. 

On April 15 everyone who takes the field, wearing that number, reminds us that the world is not an even playing field for all and that we all have a stake in changing that horrible truth. Jackie Robinson’s legacy isn’t one of peaceful protest; he was court-martialed in 1944 for refusing to move to the back of a military bus. He was a 2nd Lt at Camp Hood in Texas and the mistreatment and the disrespect at the hands of a white superior officer was too much for him to bear. Still he bore the weight of an entire people when he stepped on that field that fateful day a mere 75 years ago. He went on to win Rookie of The Year that season; NL MVP two years later; and eventually a championship during his Hall-of-Fame career. 

Jackie Robinson is a true definition of what I think a hero is; someone who sacrifices themselves, for the greater good. He embodies resilience, honor, and all those other positive values that the game of baseball teaches. He’s on O.G., one of the “original good guys.”

I love telling young players about his legacy, how he bucked the system, played baseball and still changed the world by bucking the system again. That rebellious nature led to positive change, because he was focused, paid attention to his surroundings and listened to his heart, teachings and true motivations. To make sure that they would have a game to play one day, whenever, however, they wanted. Yeah, we owe some of that to 42, the absolute number of everything. 

May the baseball gods be pleased with his life and may we be forever thankful for his legacy. Baseball is a better game since he took the field and the world is a better place with him having done so. 

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