we’re celebrating Jackie Robinson Day. All across major league baseball check out your team as I am sure some players, if not ALL will be donning #42 out of respect and honor of Jackie R. Robinson.
Being a Dodger fan (plus, we’re playing the Giants), I will be wearing my vintage Jackie Robinson jersey as I look forward to seeing the entire team wearing #42. As traditional as baseball is, each year, in particular with the Dodgers, players are allowed to wear that special jersey. If you’ve never seen it……what a sight as ALL PLAYERS THAT DAY ARE NUMBER 42. Thanks to Ken Griffey, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Robinson entry in major league baseball, he received permission to wear #42. Throughout the last 2 years the notion of wearing that special jersey has caught on. This year Commissioner Selig is requesting ALL teams wear #42. I applaud this gesture because while Jackie Robinson is an American hero, history is learned by various methods of interpretations, so for those who are not familar, surely some will ask “hey why is everyone wearing #42????? Who was that guy?
What does this have to do with Real Estate or anything for that matter????????
People say sports transcend society, and baseball as the unique sport it is, has helped people from all walks of life come together. While Jackie Robinson is used as the symbol, there is no doubt his entering baseball in 1947 will go down in the history books as one of those legacy types of events in America which helped our society grow.
Most of you know the story but for those who don’t, I would encourage you to explore how Jackie Robinson through baseball made tolerance more important to all people even as we are living in 2009 and look to the future.
Sound familar to our business today?????
Anyway, despite the major leagues suffering a decline, the Negro Leagues (yes there were two league for a reason as segregation was the custom or way of life), so “whites” had their league and “blacks” [Negroes] had theirs. The Negro Leagues were more successful as a business because they operated on a different scale but more important, it was a keen tradition in the black community to support the various teams. Their league was more “entertaining” than the major leagues, thus many like Rickey paid attention to its popularity from the business perspective. Robinson was part of the Kansas City Monarch and was considered an above average talent, although not great as some have assumed he was the best player in the league. Nevertheless, he was the best pick for the “experiment.”
So while the history books will note Rickey was providing some benevolent gesture by entertaining bringing a few “Negroes” into the league, what is not highlighted is he knew society as well as the major league fans would be intriqued by seeing someone like Jackie Robinson play right before their eyes and attendance, perhaps would increase. Finally, they did not have to sneek to Negro League games to see players like Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, just to name a few.
The rest is history!!!!!
I could go on and on but I will spare you………Surely, today is Uncle Sam’s day (at least for those who haven’t filed your taxes or owe him something), but I would encourage you to check out your local team or read more on Jackie Robinson and how his presence allowed our society to become more tolerant with one another. As for me, God willing, my wife and I will be at Dodger Stadium as they always have a great pre-game presentation honoring his contribution to America’s pastime.
Thanks for reading and feel free to chime in.
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Vice President, Chief Bloggeroligist
Tags: 1947, 42, America salutes Jackie Robinson, April 15 2009, April 15th, baseball, Branch Rickey, Brooklyn Dodgers, Buck Leonard, Chavez Ravine, Civil Rights, Civil Rights Game, Daytona Beach, Giants, Income Tax, Jackie Robinson, Jackie Robinson Day, Jackie Robinson Stadium, Josh Gibson, Kansas City Monarchs, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dogers, Major League Baseball, Negro League Museum, Negro Leagues, Number 42, Rachel Robinson, San Francisco Giants, Satchel Paige, Tax Time, Uncle Sam
