JACKIE, NO. 42 IMMORTALIZED : ALL OF BASEBALL RETIRES JERSEY PERMANENTLY.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer A man walked through the stands at Shea Stadium • • [ on Tuesday with a sign that read ``Jackie Robinson Noun 1. Jackie Robinson - United States baseball player; first Black to play in the major leagues (1919-1972) Jack Roosevelt Robinson, Robinson Stadium.'' While there was no mention of Shea's name being changed in honor of Robinson, Major League Baseball "MLB" and "Major Leagues" redirect here. For other uses, see MLB (disambiguation) and Major Leagues (disambiguation). Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. had already decided on a more sweeping tribute. Speaking during the official celebration of the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking the game's color barrier, acting commissioner Bud Selig Allan Huber "Bud" Selig, Jr. (born July 30, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was previously the team owner and administrator of the Milwaukee Brewers. announced the most lasting tribute to Robinson that baseball could offer. ``Throughout its long history, Major League Baseball has operated under the premise that no single person is bigger than the game - no single person other than Jackie Robinson,'' Selig said in a ceremony following the fifth inning of a game at Shea Stadium between the New York Mets
``In honor of Jackie, Major League Baseball is taking the unprecedented step of retiring his uniform number - No. 42 - in perpetuity Of endless duration; not subject to termination. The phrase in perpetuity is often used in the grant of an Easement to a utility company. in perpetuity adj. forever, as in one's right to keep the profits from the land in perpetuity. ,'' Selig said. ``Those players who currently wear No. 42 . . . may continue to wear the number the remainder of their careers. However, No. 42, from this day forward, will never again be issued by a major-league club. No. 42 belongs to Jackie Robinson for the ages.'' Selig then instructed the crowd of 54,647 to turn to the left-field wall for the unveiling of Robinson's number - next to those of retired Mets players Casey Stengel Noun 1. Casey Stengel - United States baseball manager (1890-1975) Charles Dillon Stengel, Stengel , Gil Hodges
Robinson's number was retired by the Dodgers on June 4, 1972. It is the only No. 42 retired in the majors. The ceremony lasted slightly more than 20 minutes and delayed the game 35 minutes. It began with recording star Tevin Campbell's rendition of ``The Impossible Dream.'' Then, Selig and a hobbling President Clinton flanked Robinson's widow, Rachel, as the trio made its way to home plate. ``Jackie Robinson's legacy did not end with baseball,'' said Clinton, who stood with the help of crutches, necessitated by knee surgery last month. ``. . . We have done a lot of good the last 50 years, but we can do more. We have achieved equality on the playing field, but we need to establish equality in the board rooms of baseball and throughout corporate America. ``As we sit side by side at baseball games, we need to make sure we walk out of these stadiums together. . . . Let that be the true legacy of Jackie Robinson's wonderful, remarkable career and life.'' Rachel Robinson Rachel Robinson, born Rachel Annetta Isum (July 19, 1922), is a former nurse and the widow of the famous African-American baseball player, Jackie Robinson. Rachel was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended UCLA. , as she has in the past months, urged those in attendance to use this celebration as inspiration. ``This anniversary has given us an opportunity as a nation to celebrate as a nation the triumphs of past and the social progress that has occurred,'' she said. ``. . . It is my passionate hope that we can take this re-awakened feeling of unity and use it as a driving force, so each of us can recommit re·com·mit tr.v. re·com·mit·ted, re·com·mit·ting, re·com·mits 1. To commit again. 2. To refer (proposed legislation, for example) to a committee again. to equality of opportunity for all Americans. ``I believe the greatest tribute to Jackie Robinson is to gain new support toward a more equitable society. And in this heady environment of unity, it is my hope we can carry this living legacy beyond this glorious moment.'' The ceremony did not end the tribute to Robinson. As it had from the night's start, the big video screen beyond center field showed tributes to Robinson until game's end. ``It had a lot of taste to it,'' Dodgers center fielder Brett Butler Brett Butler can refer to different people:
The stadium, even in the elevators, was decorated in red, white and blue bunting The Blue Bunting is a species of bunting found in North America. It is very similar in appearance to the Indigo Bunting, but is a deeper blue and has a larger bill. The males display deep blue plumage which may appear black in poor lighting, with blackish wings and tail edged with . More than 700 media credentials were issued. The field was crowded with reporters and television cameras hours before game time. The networks broadcast live from behind home plate. ``It's like the World Series out there,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell said. What was not World Series-like was the attendance. Despite the give-away of 19,451 tickets, the crowd was about 1,000 short of a sellout. Also, the Secret Service does not attend World Series games, rifling through spectators bags. Reporters had to go through a metal detector at the entrance to the stadium and again at the press-box door. The traveling White House press corps set up in the Mets' weight room. The workout equipment was strewn strew tr.v. strewed, strewn or strewed, strew·ing, strews 1. To spread here and there; scatter: strewing flowers down the aisle. 2. about in a hallway. There were Secret Service agents in every cranny, even in the Dodgers clubhouse, as Clinton was rumored to be stopping by. He did not arrive in time to go to the clubhouse, but selected Dodgers left batting practice to meet him in the tunnel behind home plate. Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres did not, as he said he might, ask the president for a tax break. Billy Ashley did not, as he said he should, just hand the president a sizeable check, seeing as April 15th is also a different type of anniversary - one that players do not appreciate. Dodgers pitcher Tom Candiotti was asked how many players in either dugout would be cheering for Clinton. ``Considering it's tax day and we all got hit pretty hard, I don't think very many,'' Candiotti said. Candiotti and most every other player did cheer when the president was introduced. Also, among those chosen to meet the president before the game were hitting coach Reggie Smith and utility outfielder Wayne Kirby, the only African-American Dodgers. Kirby was in demand much of Tuesday. On this 50th anniversary of Robinson playing his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kirby is the only African-American player on the Dodgers roster. ``I try not to think of it,'' Kirby said earlier this week. ``I just go out and play.'' Kirby, however, did not eschew the sudden attention, saying ``I'm in the big leagues because of Jackie Robinson.'' THE MAGIC NUMBER Acting commissioner Bud Selig announced that to honor Jackie Robinson no player from now on will be issued the late Hall of Famer's number. However, the players who currently wear the number can keep it for the rest of their careers. The 12 major-league players wearing No. 42 as of Tuesday night: Mo Vaughn, Boston Butch Huskey, New York Mets Tom Goodwin, Kansas City Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. Mike Jackson, Cleveland Lenny Webster, Baltimore Jason Schmidt, Pittsburgh Jose Lima, Houston Scott Karl, Milwaukee Dennis Cook, Florida Kirk Rueter, San Francisco x-Marc Sagmoen, Texas x-Sagmoen, who made his major-league debut Tuesday night, was randomly assigned 42 by the Rangers when he joined the team. After the game, he announced he would switch to No. 37 because he did not feel ``worthy'' to wear 42. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box Photo: (1--color) With the image of a daring Jackie Robinson in the background, President Bill Clinton, Rachel Robinson and Bud Selig pay tribute. (2--color) The Mets' Butch Huskey will be one of the last major-leaguers to wear Robinson's No. 42. (3--color) ``I believe that the greatest tribute that we can pay to Jackie Robinson is to gain new support for a more equitable society. And in this heady environment of unity, it is my hope that we can carry his living legacy beyond this glorious moment.'' Rachel Robinson widow of Jackie Robinson Associated Press Box: THE MAGIC NUMBER (see text) |
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