Jackie Robinson Day

Today, April 15th, is Jackie Robinson Day, probably one of the most important day in the American baseball history, and probably in all American sports and civil right movements as well.

Jackie Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era.  Before his Major League debut on April 15th, 1947 for Brooklyn Dodgers (now Los Angeles Dodgers), African-American baseball players were only allowed to play in their own league.  At the time, many white people still believed that whites and blacks shall be kept apart in many aspects in life.  Despite all the obstacles, Jackie Robinson broke the barrier and had a wonderful 10 year baseball career.

Jackie Robinson's influence isn't just in sports, but in many other aspects as well.  He and many African-American civil right activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, opened the doors to many color people in the future generation.  Some says, without Jackie Robinson, there probably won't be Obama.  Well, that might be a bit over exaggeratted, but you can see how influencial he is.

Major League Baseball dedicates April 15th to be Jackie Robinson Day.  To show tribute to this baseball legend who changed the baseball history forever, many teams would choose to all wear No. 42 jersey to play today's game.

Another interesting trivia is that normally, the baseball clubs are responsible for retiring numbers.  On April 15, 1997, Major League Baseball took the unusual move of retiring a number for all teams.  On the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the major league color barrier, his number 42 was retired throughout the majors, at the order of Commissioner Bud Selig.  This meant that no future player on any major league team could wear number 42, although players wearing #42 at the time were allowed to continue with it, and of course, everyone is allowed to wear it on Jackie Robinson Day.