Baseball needs to do more to honor the story of Jackie Robinson’s uniform number

Last weekend, Major League Baseball, as it does one weekend every April, celebrated the player who barred Brownsville in America’s pastime. In honor of Jackie Robinson, every person in uniform on every team wore 42, the number he gave him in his Hall of Fame career with the Dodgers.

It’s a nice gesture but, after almost a decade of the same idea, the use of the digits on his jersey has become a bit obsolete. The Commissioner and other MLB executives must find a more creative way to honor Robinson’s legacy, which is all about diversity.

A simple idea would be to build on the current theme, the number forty-two. Instead of just noting that player’s accomplishments, baseball should mention others who have used it. That list not only has some of the biggest stars in the game, but also reflects the diversity of the sport today.

Among the most important is Curt Flood, whose fight for free agency made him as much of a trailblazer as Robinson. The former All-Star wore that number during his first season with the St. Louis Cardinals, after serving a year out of the game for refusing to accept a trade to Philadelphia.

Also on the list is the most memorable closer in the extraordinary history of the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera. Because he has been retired for all teams, he will be the last player inducted into the Hall of Fame while wearing that number. The talented reliever used forty-two for nineteen years, almost twice as long as Robinson.

Outfielder Dave Henderson, a prolific slugger for Seattle, Boston and Oakland, wore it for fourteen seasons, as well as three different seasons in the World Series. Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn wore it for fourteen years and was the last person to hit with 42 as his regular number.

When he faced Rivera on August 13, 2000, it marked the last time a pitcher and batter wore that number. Vaughn was playing for the Anaheim Angels when he came to the plate against Rivera in the eighth inning, and that routine fly ball marked the last time 42 would retire 42, except in today’s Robinson tribute game.

Veteran pitcher Rick Mahler had him on his back for twelve years, setting the record for consecutive Opening Day starts. Right-hander Sonny Seibert, who spent most of his career with Cleveland and Boston, had more wins (142) than any other pitcher with those digits in his uniform.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Ron Little was the only other player selected as Rookie of the Year with a four versus a two on his jersey. Bruce Sutter is one of the few Hall of Famers who regularly wore the forty-two, which was on his jersey when he pitched for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

By acknowledging the variety of players who once shared Robinson’s number, baseball could embrace the diversity it has achieved since the color barrier was broken.