More than 150 players plan to wear No. 42
Hunter: Too Many Wearing No. 42
Are the growing numbers of players planning to wear Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on Sunday too much of a good thing? Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter thinks so.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier, ending decades of segregation in America's national pastime. For more on Robinson's impact on baseball and society and his legacy 60 years later, click here.On "Outside the Lines" Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET, Rachel Robinson shares her life with ABC's Robin Roberts. More |
"This is supposed to be an honor," Hunter told USA Today, "and just a handful of guys wearing the number. Now you've got entire teams doing it. I think we're killing the meaning.
"It should be special wearing Jackie's number, not just because it looks cool," Hunter told the newspaper.
"It kind of waters it down," Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia told USA Today. "I could see the Dodgers since that was his team, but not everyone else."
If it were up to SportsNation, each team would designate one player to wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Nearly 20 percent would like to see No. 42 remain retired, with no players donning the number on Sunday.
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"I didn't know so many guys planned to wear the number. I sure wasn't expecting whole teams to wear it," Griffey told the newspaper of his gesture-turned-movement. "But I'm not going to look at it as a negative. This is a tribute for what the man has done, a day to celebrate."
But Los Angeles Angels left fielder Garret Anderson told the newspaper he won't wear No. 42. "I just don't feel I'm worthy of it," he explained.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier, ending decades of segregation in America's national pastime. For more on Robinson's impact on baseball and society and his legacy 60 years later,
If it were up to SportsNation, each team would designate one player to wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Nearly 20 percent would like to see No. 42 remain retired, with no players donning the number on Sunday.


