Remember, it was Ken Griffey Jr. who went to Rachel Robinson in 2007 and asked permission to wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie and that’s how this wonderful tradition began.
April 16, 2024
Remember, it was Ken Griffey Jr. who went to Rachel Robinson in 2007 and asked permission to wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie and that’s how this wonderful tradition began.
15 comments
Say what you will about Selig, but retiring 42 league-wide was incredible.
Did not know that, awesome fact
Just when I thought I couldn’t have liked Jr any more
The black cleats are a dope touch too
He was on his way out when I was a kid, but Griffey Jr. was still the player to know. It’s cool to still look back on him and think, “Hell yeah.”
Great tradition. TERRIBLE execution.
You see how Griffey is wearing 42 AND his name is still on the jersey? Well MLB?
This isn’t true, the number was retired league-wide in 1997…a full decade before this person is suggesting. The first Jackie Robinson Day game was played at Shea stadium as well. It was to honor the 50th anniversary of Jackie breaking the color barrier.
BUT, the first person to give the Negro League Players respect/homage that I was ever aware of was Marquis Griffen, who wore his sock high (to his knees) in honor of the Negro League players back in 1994 for the Montreal Expos iirc. That’s where Jackie played his first year of Pro Ball for MLB in 1945-46. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grissma02.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grissma02.shtml)
Trendsetter! Awesome tradition.
Honestly one of my favorite days in baseball each year
The OG Big Dumper
It was in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Jackie’s debut that Griffey first started the tradition of wearing #42, he then went to the commissioner’s office again in 2007 and it became permanent.
(He’s in a Mariner uniform here and in 2007 Griffey was on the Reds)
Hmm? Jackie Robinson Day started in 1999, didn’t it? Griffey started the trend in 1997, too.
15 comments
Say what you will about Selig, but retiring 42 league-wide was incredible.
Did not know that, awesome fact
Just when I thought I couldn’t have liked Jr any more
The black cleats are a dope touch too
He was on his way out when I was a kid, but Griffey Jr. was still the player to know. It’s cool to still look back on him and think, “Hell yeah.”
Great tradition. TERRIBLE execution.
You see how Griffey is wearing 42 AND his name is still on the jersey? Well MLB?
This isn’t true, the number was retired league-wide in 1997…a full decade before this person is suggesting. The first Jackie Robinson Day game was played at Shea stadium as well. It was to honor the 50th anniversary of Jackie breaking the color barrier.
Reason 17264950284 Ken Griffey Jr is the coolest
https://www.mlb.com/news/seattle-mariners-ken-griffey-jr-was-first-to-wear-no-42-to-honor-jackie-robinson/c-118562336
That is true, and awesome on Griffey’s part.
BUT, the first person to give the Negro League Players respect/homage that I was ever aware of was Marquis Griffen, who wore his sock high (to his knees) in honor of the Negro League players back in 1994 for the Montreal Expos iirc. That’s where Jackie played his first year of Pro Ball for MLB in 1945-46. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grissma02.shtml](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grissma02.shtml)
Trendsetter! Awesome tradition.
Honestly one of my favorite days in baseball each year
The OG Big Dumper
It was in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Jackie’s debut that Griffey first started the tradition of wearing #42, he then went to the commissioner’s office again in 2007 and it became permanent.
(He’s in a Mariner uniform here and in 2007 Griffey was on the Reds)
Hmm? Jackie Robinson Day started in 1999, didn’t it? Griffey started the trend in 1997, too.