Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson - again and again
By the Heckler
One courageous step by a man, one giant leap forward for mankind.
April 15, 1947 will forever stand as the day the Major League color barrier was finally broken – and thanks to the now-yearly Jackie Robinson day - baseball is at least attempting to make certain people never forget.
But are they doing enough?
With this year’s focus culminating Saturday at New York’s Shea Stadium, public address announcer Alex Anthony welcomed a packed house to a brief pre-game ceremony to honor this “beacon of hope and inspiration to Americans in all corners of the country.”
Robinson’s widow, Rachel, was the recipient of a fans’ standing ovation as she took the field as part of the service, flanked on either side by the president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, Bob DuPuy, along with Mets manager Willie Randolph.
Mrs. Robinson acknowledged the warm reception to every corner of the Shea faithful, and then gave way to Adrian Lee of Rutgers University – and a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar – who delivered the ceremonial first pitch to the Mets’ Carolos Delgado. An acappella rendering of the national anthem by the four-member Christ Tabernacle Youth Gospel Choir rounded out the festivities.
Plaudits echoed around the stadium in describing Robinson’s contribution such as, “Courage . . . Determination . . . Teamwork . . . Persistence . . . Integrity . . . Citizenship . . . Justice . . . Commitment . . . Excellence.”
All very nice, but the Heckler would stil like to add one more: underappreciated, as the steps taken by the humble Jackie Robinson can never truly be recognized enough in these eyes.
How many people would willingly undertake what Jackie did, knowing full-well the amount of abhorrent, ignorant bouts of racism and hatred he would encounter? It surely took years off the man’s life (having died in 1972 at only 53-years-of age) and yet, is the modern generation fully aware of his enormous contribution to the game and America as a whole?
Apparently not, as even Major League players like Cliff Floyd revealed the necessity of having to be brought up to speed on the enormity of Robinson’s achievement.
“He opened a lot of doors, especially at a time that had to be most difficult to play. It had to be really tough on him,” said Mets outfielder Floyd, admitting that the only thing he knew Robinson for was being the man for whom his little league diamond was named after in Chicago. “I think it’s great for baseball to now take the time to embrace someone like that, to let people know why this is someone they should appreciate.
“You’d think the coaches would tell you what he had done. But, no, they never said anything. So I really didn’t know much about his part in history. That’s the great thing about this day. It makes people take a new look at what he did, and I think that’s important.”
Surely if a Major Leaguer like Floyd was oblivious, how many more people (particularly youngsters across North America and the world) are as ignorant as was Floyd?
Persons of all colors owe Robinson a debt of thanks for opening the eyes of the American public consciousness. We owe it to each other to pass on his legacy to all future generations.
That even one person be oblivious to him and his legacy in an indictment on us all.
For more on Jackie Robinson:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/robinja02
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/Robinson_Jackie.htm
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/plaques/Robinson_Jackie.htm
source:
http://mlb.mlb.com/