We May Lose Jackie Robinson Day
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut. If you are not familiar with why this is important, Jackie Robinson was the first African American to enter the MLB. To honor what is largely regarded as the most important achievement in sports history, the MLB has Jackie Robinson Day. Every MLB player wears the number 42 on April 15 of every year since this was the number that Robinson wore. No other players are allowed to wear this number on any other day since Robinson’s number is the only universally retired number in the league. Because of the ongoing turmoil between the Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, an agreement for play cannot be reached. The longer that there is no agreement, the longer the delay of opening day. If it continues, there will be no MLB games played on Jackie Robinson day for the first time since it began in 2009. This would be tragic for the sport and for the bigger meaning of the game.