The impact of a legend defies time. That is why, 67 years later, we are commemorating the career of baseball great Jackie Robinson.
On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier when he played his first Major League game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. At 28 years old, it was only the beginning of a career marked by World Series appearances, countless awards and finally his induction into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1962.
But Robinson’s talent was not the only thing that made him a star. Off the field, Robinson was a large proponent of the civil rights movement, and hoped to play a role in improving the quality of life for all African-Americans.
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Every year on this, day the San Francisco Giants and the baseball community at large remember Robinson in a special way. This year the Giants allowed fans to purchase two tickets for only $42 dollars (tickets are already sold out), a nod to the jersey number 42 that Robinson wore. There will also be a pregame ceremony with special guest on Tuesday, April 15.
The Giants took to Twitter early Tuesday morning at 6:42 a.m. retweeting fans “thank you” tweets to the late legend.
“If it wasn’t for Jackie Robinson I wouldn’t be in this clubhouse. I live comfortably because of Jackie Robinson,” Giants Coach Shawon Dunston said.
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Tuesday, every team throughout the league remembers the athlete by wearing the number 42 jersey, including Tuesday night in San Francisco when the Giants’ host Robinson’s former team, the Dodgers.
Check out how people on Twitter are remembering Robinson:
No. 42. He hit it out of the park. #JackieRobinsonDay pic.twitter.com/LcRhzWq7DA — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2014
Would not be where I am today if it wasn't for Jackie Robinson...a true hero #JackieRobinsonDay #ThankYouJackie pic.twitter.com/SsZWY7EnGR — David Ortiz (@davidortiz) April 15, 2014
#42 #JackieRobinsonDay — Matt Carpenter (@MattCarp13) April 15, 2014
Happy Jackie Robinson Day! Thank you Jackie, you are the reason I am able to be a part of the @Dodgers ownership! #Jackie42 — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 15, 2014
Honored to wear this jersey. Means so much to America's pastime #birdland #JackieRobinsonDay #MLB pic.twitter.com/V5wHvKvht9 — Bud Norris (@BudNorris25) April 15, 2014
