Adam Jones and Buck Showalter talk about Jackie Robinson Day
It is Jackie Robinson day throughout Major League Baseball. Today marks the 68th anniversary of Robinson's first big league game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, when he became the first African American to play in the majors.
All players on all teams will wear No. 42 in today's games.
"It is awesome," Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said. "It is bringing unity to the game. This game has extreme reaches due to some bravery by Jackie."
Is it important that baseball honor the anniversary once each year?
"As you see in our society, racism is still there," Jones said. "Obviously bigger scales than the sport of baseball, but baseball is something that unites everyone. Doesn't matter whether you are black, white or indifferent. It unites us. As you see, our game is international and our clubhouse is international. This is one thing that brings us together and that's sports."
Jones was asked if baseball is making strides in attracting more African Americans to the sport.
"It is hard to really say let's get more African Americans in baseball," Jones said. "I know the RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City program) is doing a lot and various foundations. But it is not as strong here in the States as it is in the Dominican, Venezuela and Asia.
"Here, kids have too many outlets. You have soccer, lacrosse and football and basketball are heavily predominated by African Americans. In the States, you have tons of options and kids are keeping their options open.
"I've told my nephews, 'You don't necessarily have to play baseball.' I'm not trying to get all African Americans to play baseball. I'm trying to get them to do something productive. Playing a sport is something that bonds you and creates lifetime bonds with people that you never would have had if you don't play sports."
In recognition of today's anniversary, the Orioles honored Robinson's legacy by hosting a "self-expression" contest at the Westport Homes Boys & Girls Club. Members were challenged to express their thoughts creatively through a speech, poem, art or skit about Robinson's nine values for success: citizenship, commitment, courage, determination, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence and teamwork. Jones was on a three-member panel evaluating each project.
He had an enjoyable day with the kids.
"The reason why I am here and the reason why a lot of the ethnicities are in baseball is because of a man's stance. Those kids did a great job performing in front of a panel and cameras explaining what Jackie Robinson meant to them," he said.
During his pregame press conference today, O's manager Buck Showalter talked about the day's significance in MLB.
"Makes me proud that we are having this special day. Doesn't make me particularly proud when you think about how long it took," Showalter said.
"I had a pitching coach, Russ 'Monk' Meyer, who played with Jackie. Used to really pick his brain about it on the bus rides in Double-A and Single-A.
"Remember Monk talking about, looking back on it, about how he felt bad about some of his actions. But how Jackie took it and how Jackie ... they ended up getting so much respect for him because the way he handled a lot of things thrown his way. There is always somebody that made your path a little easier along the way.
"I hope we are able to reach more and more people to play our sport. I know it is really a strong initiative by the commissioner's office to reach out."
Orioles pitcher Jason Garcia said today was important to him as well.
"You have to respect what he went through and everything he did. It's an honor to wear 42 on the back of our jersey today," Garica said.
Feeling honored to wear this number on my back tonight. #JackieRobinsonDay pic.twitter.com/mpIsM0utaO
-- Jason garcia (@JasonGarcia_61) April 15, 2015
LATEST ORIOLES NEWS
LATEST NATIONALS NEWS
About the author
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/