...
By Joe Kozlowski
Sports Team Lead
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
In the world of sports, a number is a pretty personal thing. Some were adopted in childhood out of respect for a favorite player. Others were acquired by chance in the pros. Ultimately, though, they become a key part of one's identity. It's impossible to think of Derek Jeter, for example, without the iconic 2 on the back of his pin-striped jersey.
But for one day of the Major League Baseball season, all of that individuality is set aside. Near the start of each campaign, everyone takes the field as number 42.
And if you've ever wondered what's behind that change, it's boils down to one man who's bigger than baseball: Jackie Robinson.
Read More on Sports
...
When Is Jackie Robinson Day 2025?
Baseball, perhaps more so than other sports, is bound by tradition. Stats and history matter; fans will remember the day when something occurred for years to come.
In that vein, Jackie Robinson Day always occupies the same place on the calendar: April 15.
Why Is April 15 Jackie Robinson Day?
But wait, you may be asking yourself, what does April 15 have to do with anything? The date isn't linked to Robinson's jersey number, as digits carry significance for other special days like Pi Day and May the Fourth. Why honor the baseball legend then?
Well, April 15 is the day that Robinson wrote his name in history. On April 15, 1947, he broke the color barrier by making his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He wasn't too productive that day, going 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt, but that on-field performance is irrelevant compared to his presence between the white lines.
Robinson, however, quickly put things together on the field too. Despite facing all sorts of abuse, he went on to claim Rookie of the Year honors. He'd also add a World Series title, NL MVP, the NL batting crown and six All-Star Game appearances to his resume before calling it a career.
He was enshrined in Cooperstown in 1962, and his number 42 has been retired across Major League Baseball. The league has celebrated its annual Jackie Robinson Day since 2004.
Jackie Robinson Jersey: Why MLB Players Wear Number 42
In 1997, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's number across the league. Players who had already chosen the number, like Mariano Rivera, could keep it, but it couldn't be issued to any new players moving forward. And since the Hall of Fame Yankees closer has long since retired, 42 is confined to the history books.
There is one exception though. Each year on Jackie Robinson Day, everyone takes to the field with the same number on their backs. What started as a tribute by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. eventually became a leaguewide policy.
The message is clear: Robinson's place in baseball (and American) history set the stage for the game we know today.
When Did Jackie Robinson Die?
Robinson didn't come close to getting to see the entirety of Major League Baseball pay tribute to his significance. The trailblazer died at age 53 on October 24, 1972, following a heart attack. He was buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery; fittingly, it straddles the line between Brooklyn and Queens, the former being the New York City borough where he broke the color barrier with the Dodgers.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines