It was a special day in the baseball world Sunday. Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the day that Robinson became the first black player to play in the major leagues. Yesterday, thanks to the Reds’ Ken Griffey, Jr., who approached MLB Commissioner Bud Selig a week ago about wearing the number 42, more than 200 players, including all of the L.A. Dodger players, donned jerseys with Robinson’s number 42. Before last night’s ESPN Game of the Week between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the league had a touching tribute to Robinson’s memory.
What Robinson did is open a door to a sport that was previously closed to black players. Football, basketball and track and field weren’t the only games in town for black athletes. Baseball was another option. Despite the fact that there are fewer black players today than there were in 1975 when 25 percent of players were black, the door is still open. And not just for black players but for all minorities.
Since that fateful day in 1947 when Robinson took the field for the first time, the league has seen growing numbers of Hispanic players from the U.S. and around the globe. More recently, players from Japan have joined our playing field. While there are still fewer black players today, the league is also becoming more international. And I believe it all began with one door opening 60 years ago.
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