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Why April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, when every MLB player wears 42
TL;DR
April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, commemorating his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the breaking of baseball's color barrier. On this day, every MLB player wears the number 42 in honor of Robinson's legacy.
Why April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, when every MLB player wears 42 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There will never be another day like it in baseball history.
It's the day Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It's the day Robinson broke MLB's color barrier.
It's the day Robinson opened the door to Major League Baseball that had been slammed shut for so long.
It came with hatred and danger for Robinson, but he persevered and became a hero.
Every year, MLB recognizes Jackie Robinson Day on April 15. Every player in the league will wear his number, 42, on their uniform.
As the line in the movie 42says, "That way, no one will be able to tell us apart."
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Why is April 15 Jackie Robinson Day?
This is the date Robinson debuted in the major leagues -- April 15, 1947.
He played first base and scored a run that day in a 5-3 Brooklyn win over the Boston Braves.
Why does everyone wear 42?
The number 42 was what Robinson had on his uniform for the entirety of his MLB career, and so that's what everyone wears in MLB each April 15 to remember him.
The digits are retired across the league, so 42 can't be worn on any day other than this one.
At the time of the jersey retirement leaguewide, players who wore 42 were allowed to keep it until they retired. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was the last one to wear 42 as his own number.
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Full box score from Jackie Robinson's MLB debut on April 15, 1947
Line Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Braves | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X | 5 | 6 | 1 |
Brooklyn Dodgers Batting
| Player | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanky, Eddie | 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Reese, Pee Wee | SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Walker, Dixie | RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Herman, Billy | LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robinson, Jackie | 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Edwards, Bruce | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Vaughan, Arky | 3B |
Boston Braves Batting
| Player | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes, Tommy | RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Hopp, Johnny | CF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Elliott, Bob | 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Rowell, Jeff | LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Torgeson, Earl | 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Masi, Phil | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan, Connie | 2B |
Pitching
| Team | Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | Branca, Ralph (W) | 9.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Boston | Sain, Johnny (L) | 8.0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
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Q&A
Why is April 15 celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day in MLB?
April 15 is celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day to honor the anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and his role in breaking MLB's color barrier.
What does wearing number 42 signify on Jackie Robinson Day?
Wearing number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day signifies respect and recognition of Jackie Robinson's contributions to baseball and the fight against racial segregation.
What impact did Jackie Robinson have on Major League Baseball?
Jackie Robinson had a profound impact on Major League Baseball by breaking the color barrier, paving the way for future generations of players of color.
How did Jackie Robinson's debut affect the perception of race in sports?
Jackie Robinson's debut challenged racial segregation in sports, fostering greater acceptance and integration in Major League Baseball and inspiring social change beyond the sport.
