April 15th in baseball is known as Jackie Robinson Day! When the league decided that all players would wear No. 42 every April 15, the day that Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947, it was one of the greatest things that the sport could have done. Jackie Robinson Day provides an opportunity to reflect on just how far America has come and just how far it has to go with regards to race relations. It's important that the league reflects on just how evolved the game of baseball has been since Jackie Robinson started a revolution. The MLB has decided to retire the num.42 in all of the minor leagues and in the major leagues. Only one player still wears the number 42 to this day and that is Mariano Rivera. If Yankees closer Mariano Rivera retires after this season, there no longer will be an active player in Major League Baseball wearing No. 42. Rivera had to let that thought sink in on Jackie Robinson Day.
In my opinion, Jackie Robinson Day is one of the most important days of the year. It is such a special day throughout the world of sports. Jackie Robinson did what nobody else could have done at the time. He is a true pioneer to the game of baseball. I think the MLB could do more to honor Jackie by maybe extending Jackie Robinson day to a week. I love what the MLB did to honor Jackie by retiring the number 42 thourhout the league. It will be different when Mariano Rivera retires and there will be no active player wearing the num.42.
I agree that the MLB should extend Jackie Robinson Day to Jackie Robinson Week. I think if Mariano doesn't retire after this season, maybe he should change his number so there is no one with the number 42. That is just my opinion, but I doubt he will do that since he has had that number his entire career.
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