Orioles discuss Jackie Robinson Day

Jackie Robinson Day is being formally commemorated today and tonight around Major League Baseball. There will be a focus on Robinson's activism and impact on civil rights in society during and following his playing career.

Today's date of Aug. 28 is the anniversary of the March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, which Jackie and Rachel Robinson and their children attended. It is also the date in 1945 when Robinson and Branch Rickey met to discuss his future as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Customary to the annual in-season Jackie Robinson Day celebration (held on April 15), all players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field staff will wear Jackie's No. 42 to honor the historic significance in Robinson ushering in necessary changes to MLB by breaking the color barrier in 1947.

This all follows by a day the Orioles electing not to play last night's game in St. Petersburg, Fla. They joined other teams and players around MLB looking to promote the elimination of racial injustice, intensified after Sunday's police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

This afternoon, via a Zoom video interview, O's media spoke with pitcher Mychal Givens, outfielder Mason Williams and O's first base coach Anthony Sanders.

The group took time to discuss the Thursday postponement.

"I think it means a lot to us collectively," said Williams. "A reason why we didn't play yesterday, we felt it was bigger than baseball. We didn't feel comfortable taking the field and it was a team decision."

"None of us have all the answers to this," said Sanders. "I've leaned on a lot of veterans in this game, one Willie Randolph, who I consistently talk to. He shares things that have happened to him and how to handle things now. Hats off to our skipper, Brandon (Hyde). He's gone above and beyond, putting himself in uncomfortable situations and communicating and listening. And it just trickles down to this clubhouse. I've seen kids from opening day to last night, almost change overnight. You can tell they are listening and want to learn. I think we are going in the right direction."

Added Givens: "I think Anthony hit it on the head. We are just educating ourselves. Last night, we did that as team. We are brothers and have a brotherhood here and have each other's back."

Hyde said Sanders took a leadership role in the clubhouse discussions on Thursday.

"I wasn't raised a certain way," said Sanders. "I come from a really good family, and to me, I was doing the right thing. I'm speaking from my heart and this thing impacts everybody in a lot of different ways. I don't know how much change is going to happen overnight, but each individual family with their girlfriends, kids, grandparents, just (gaining) awareness and the tough conversations that need to be had. We've got a really good group here, lot of young kids who need some direction a little bit and need this platform to speak their thoughts."

Additional visibility of Jackie's iconic No. 42 tonight will include a commemorative sleeve patch for all on-field personnel, a team color patch on New Era caps, Stance socks and base jewels. Traditionally, Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated on April 15 to mark the anniversary of Robinson's major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. On April 15, 2020, MLB and its teams commemorated the 73rd anniversary of this historic moment with virtual activities on social media and online platforms.

"It's wonderful to put that uniform on every year," said Givens. "Today is a great opportunity to wear that jersey. It teaches kids about who he is and what Jackie has done for us. And also remember what his family had to go through as well. This is a legacy to him and his family.

"This means a lot, giving us a platform to be up here and talk about these things," said Williams. "Obviously to discuss the adversity of what he went through to become what he was. Hard for us to talk about it honestly. Just means a lot to us."

The group discussed the emotions of the last 24 hours, what it meant to them and the Orioles. A postponement followed by the celebration of today.

"It's basically who I am," Sanders said. "It's who my family, my wife, my kids are and what baseball has given me. The opportunities to get to the major leagues as a young African American player and now to get here for the first time as a major league coach. The young African American players on this team, seeing these kids get to the big leagues for the first time and go through some of the stuff. None of this happens without what Jackie did. Just a big thank you to the family and those that paved the way for all of us to get here."

"There is a lot going on," said Givens. "We have to try and step back and understand what is going on really. We have to teach our kids at home - I have two little girls. Having them deal with this and what is going on in 2020 - it's a lot happening. In the clubhouse, we are a unit, sticking besides each other and doing what is best for the Orioles."

Williams said: "There are a lot of heavy hearts in the clubhouse and the world right now. There is an opportunity here that we all can grasp and just understand we need to do better as a whole. Lot of people with heavy hearts."