Lee to wear No. 42 on April 15

[BCVM22]

Didn't see this posted yet (might be 'cuz no one cares, but oh well)

 

"It means a lot," Lee said. "I wouldn't be here without Jackie Robinson. It's my way of kind of saying thank you. I probably won't get another opportunity to wear that number. It will be special to have 42 on my back."

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070405&content_id=1880977&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/prod.jpg

 

I really like this, to be honest. It's a classy move on the part of Selig (happens every so often) and the individual players participating, a list that includes Griffey, Bonds, Crisp, Willis and undoubtedly others.

Edited April 6, 2007 by BCVM22

[Garwilly]

I may buy that if available.

[Chris]

pretty sweet

[Garwilly]

Reminds me of piniella's number.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The whole Dodgers team is wearing #42 I believe. That'd be cool if the entire league did it.

[Garwilly]

The whole Dodgers team is wearing #42 I believe. That'd be cool if the entire league did it.

 

 

Equipment manager's dream.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Are the jerseys going to have their name, or Jackie Robinson's name on the back? I like the idea, but I hope MLB doesn't try to turn this into a circus, or try to profit from it. Griffey wanted to do something to honor Robinson, not profit off of him.

[UMFan83]

Are the jerseys going to have their name, or Jackie Robinson's name on the back? I like the idea, but I hope MLB doesn't try to turn this into a circus, or try to profit from it. Griffey wanted to do something to honor Robinson, not profit off of him.

 

Looks like they will if they already have Lee 42 jerseys for sale

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Are the jerseys going to have their name, or Jackie Robinson's name on the back? I like the idea, but I hope MLB doesn't try to turn this into a circus, or try to profit from it. Griffey wanted to do something to honor Robinson, not profit off of him.

 

Looks like they will if they already have Lee 42 jerseys for sale

Are they already for sale? Or is that picture just someone's photoshop work?

[Garwilly]

Are the jerseys going to have their name, or Jackie Robinson's name on the back? I like the idea, but I hope MLB doesn't try to turn this into a circus, or try to profit from it. Griffey wanted to do something to honor Robinson, not profit off of him.

 

Looks like they will if they already have Lee 42 jerseys for sale

Are they already for sale? Or is that picture just someone's photoshop work?

 

The pic above is jut designing your own name/number combo online. The personalization engine.

[BCVM22]

Players to wear No. 42 on April 15 in honor of Jackie Robinson (as of Friday morning):

 

Barry Bonds, OF, San Francisco Giants

Bill Hall, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Carlos Lee, OF, Houston Astros

C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland Indians (not scheduled to pitch that day)

Coco Crisp, OF, Boston Red Sox

Derrek Lee, 1B, Chicago Cubs

Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals

Dontrelle Willis, SP, Florida Marlins

Gary Matthews, Jr., OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Gary Sheffield, OF, Detroit Tigers

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Josh Barfield, 2B, Cleveland Indians

Ken Griffey, Jr., OF, Cincinatti Reds

Mike Cameron, OF, San Diego Padres

Milton Bradley, OF, Oakland Athletics

Orlando Hudson, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Torii Hunter, OF, Minnesota Twins

Willie Randolph, manager, New York Mets

The entire 25-man roster of the Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Teams not yet having publically confirmed a participant:

Chicago White Sox

Atlanta Braves

Houston Astros

St. Louis Cardinals

Baltimore Orioles

Texas Rangers

Colorado Rockies

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Toronto Blue Jays

Milwaukee Brewers

Seattle Mariners

Kansas City Royals

Pittsburgh Pirates

 

Yankees don't count because Mariano's been wearing No. 42 his entire career.

Edited April 6, 2007 by BCVM22

[texascub]

The Braves could have Andruw Jones, Renteria, or Rafael Soriano. The Astros I really don't know about.

[Tracer Bullet]

When I first saw the list come out (Griffey, Bonds, Lee...Crisp), I thought...Coco Crisp? Really? Then I realized he might be the most prominent African American on their roster (haven't taken the time to really think about that).

 

I like the idea, but it sounded really cool on the part of Griffey to push for it. And even Bonds to get on board early (though it sounds like the idea was brought to him, rather than him asking to participate). But now so many teams are doing it that some guys are just going to wear it b/c the wants to take part in it (whether for profit or to honor Robinson, I don't know) and they only have one or two African Americans on their team, so Player X gets told "you're wearing 42." It's losing some significance, I think.

[UMFan83]

I don't get it, why are African Americans the only ones allowed to wear 42 on that day? Didn't Jackie Robinson pave the way for people of all races to play the spot. Heck, even a white person could wear it under the argument that Jackie breaking the 'color barrier' allowed the sport to grow into the global spot it is becoming today.

[danesoz]

I like the idea, but I think everyone should get the chance to wear it, even more than one person on a team. JJ said he wouldn't mind wearing the number for a day becuase of the fact that he's here because of him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't get it, why are African Americans the only ones allowed to wear 42 on that day? Didn't Jackie Robinson pave the way for people of all races to play the spot. Heck, even a white person could wear it under the argument that Jackie breaking the 'color barrier' allowed the sport to grow into the global spot it is becoming today.

 

All of the Dodgers will be wearing 42.

[RynoRules]

I think is a very cool idea and a nice way to educate youngsters (and some of the players too).

[BigbadB]

I don't get it, why are African Americans the only ones allowed to wear 42 on that day? Didn't Jackie Robinson pave the way for people of all races to play the spot. Heck, even a white person could wear it under the argument that Jackie breaking the 'color barrier' allowed the sport to grow into the global spot it is becoming today.

 

Agreed.

[rocket]

I don't get it, why are African Americans the only ones allowed to wear 42 on that day? Didn't Jackie Robinson pave the way for people of all races to play the spot. Heck, even a white person could wear it under the argument that Jackie breaking the 'color barrier' allowed the sport to grow into the global spot it is becoming today.

 

Agreed.

 

where does it explicitly say that only black people are allowed to wear #42?

[BigbadB]

where does it explicitly say that only black people are allowed to wear #42?

 

It doesn't. But where are the white guys on the list? Hafner instead of Barfield? Mourneau instead of Hunter?

 

A real statement would be to do what the Dodgers are doing and have every player, manager and coach wear #42.

[CubColtPacer]

I would love if everybody in the entire league got to wear #42 because people are right that Robinson changed the game for everyone. If they are only going to allow one player from some of the teams though, it makes sense that they should offer it to the African-Americans first-Robinson changed it for everyone, but he had the most direct impact on changing the barrier for African-Americans. If all those players decline, then it should be offered to all the other players and a team shouldn't decline to have a player wear it before they have offered and had it declined by everyone.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Don't count on the Astros having anyone. They don't have any black players.

[TruffleShuffle]

Don't count on the Astros having anyone. They don't have any black players.

 

boy am i shocked! :lol: :lol:

[Roast]

Awesome! My ticket choices just keep getting better!

 

I have tickets to 4/9 and 4/15. Sweet deal. I wonder if they'll have any special ceremonies or recognition prior to the game?

[Garwilly]

Awesome! My ticket choices just keep getting better!

 

I have tickets to 4/9 and 4/15. Sweet deal. I wonder if they'll have any special ceremonies or recognition prior to the game?

 

I'll be there 4/15. And free bobbleheads!