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Why are MLB players wearing 42 today? Jackie Robinson Day, explained
TL;DR
MLB players are wearing No. 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947. Jackie Robinson Day has been officially celebrated since 2004, with all on-field personnel participating in the tribute.
Jackie Robinson made history when he took the field at Ebbets Field in his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
His is a legacy that continues in perpetuity, 79 years later, as MLB commemorates the anniversary of the day Robinson broke baseball's color barrier.
The tradition itself, in an official sense, is more recent than you might think; Jackie Robinson Day was first celebrated on April 15, 2004 and the practice of all on-field personnel — every player, manager, umpire and bat and ball boy — wearing Robinson's No. 42 didn't become firmly established for another five years after that.
But according to the Jackie Robinson Museum website, it was tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson who inaugurated it almost 80 years ago.
At the end of Robinson's rookie season, on Sept. 23, 1947, Bojangles led an on-field ceremony at Ebbets Field as a way for New York's Black communities to show their appreciation for Robinson and support for desegregation in the big leagues. Robinson was gifted a new car, TV set, gold watch and a fur coat for his wife, Rachel, through donations solicited by the New York Amsterdam News, a local Black newspaper.
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.
Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.
American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.
A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.
Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.
This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.
This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.
During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.
The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.
This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.
An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.
Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.
Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.
This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.
A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.
From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.
Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.
American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.
Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).
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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer
American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.
Fifty years later, MLB rang in the 50th anniversary of Robinson's debut by unilaterally retiring No. 42 across the league. Ken Griffey Jr. temporarily switched his number from 24 to 42 on that day to honor Robinson and a decade later, he asked Rachel Robinson and then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig if they could temporarily unretire the number so he could wear it once again in tribute to Jackie Robinson.
The idea took off around the majors and on April 15, 2007, over 100 players — including four entire teams — took the field with No. 42 on their backs.
That number tripled for 2008, according to the Jackie Robinson Museum, and by 2009, every player, manager and umpire wore the number.
"To have everybody do it, I didn't think it was going to go that far," Griffey said in an interview with MLB Network's Harold Reynolds. "I wasn't thinking that big, but it's been an unbelievable thing since day one."
In 2022, the tradition took another step when MLB decided to have 42 on every jersey in a block Dodger blue font, with blue socks, regardless of the team's colors or number style.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why MLB players are wearing No. 42 for Jackie Robinson Day
Q&A
What is Jackie Robinson Day and why is it celebrated?
Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated on April 15 each year to honor Jackie Robinson's legacy as the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier in 1947.
When did Jackie Robinson Day first start being officially recognized?
Jackie Robinson Day was first officially recognized on April 15, 2004.
Who was the first person to honor Jackie Robinson with a ceremony?
Tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson led the first on-field ceremony to honor Jackie Robinson at Ebbets Field on September 23, 1947.
What gifts were presented to Jackie Robinson during the first ceremony?
During the first ceremony, Jackie Robinson was gifted a new car, a TV set, a gold watch, and a fur coat for his wife, Rachel, through donations from the local Black community.