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hblakewolf
04-04-2007, 08:10 PM
Forum Readers-

Although an "interesting concept", I'm not so keen on "unretiring" a retired number for one game, let alone allowing other players to wear it, too. A retired number is just that-retired. The following was posted on ESPN:

Griffey to honor Robinson
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Associated Press
Posted: 3 hours ago // front-end hack to remove postedTime from Rumors page until a better way can be determined if (document.URL.indexOf("/name/FS/rumors") != -1 && document.getElementById("postedTime") != null) document.getElementById("postedTime").style.display = 'none';
if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[i][4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[i][0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msn.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; } CINCINNATI (AP) - Ken Griffey Jr. (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/player/85505) plans to wear No. 42 on April 15, honoring the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.

The Cincinnati Reds (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71603) outfielder called baseball commissioner Bud Selig and got permission to wear the retired number for the one day. Major League Baseball then invited players on other teams to do the same.
"What I think: If he didn't achieve or didn't overcome the racial tension, would I be wearing this uniform?" Griffey said Wednesday. "Or, when was the next opportunity that an African-American would get a chance to put on another major league uniform if he didn't achieve what he did?"
Baseball plans to honor the anniversary before a game between the San Diego Padres (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71611) and the Dodgers (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71605) in Los Angeles. Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71605) on April 15, 1947.
Griffey wore No. 42 on the 50th anniversary, and thought it would be appropriate to do it again. Baseball retired the number 10 years ago as a way of honoring Robinson's contribution to the game.
"I called Bud because it is retired, and we talked about it for a few minutes," Griffey said. "He said he'd call me back. He just wanted to make sure it was OK with everybody. It was.
"Usually when you get a call from somebody, (it's because) you're in trouble. But in this case, it was just a nice, good conversation about honoring somebody who did so much for the game of baseball."
Griffey wore No. 24 during his 11 seasons in Seattle. He switched to No. 30 - his father's number - when he was traded before the 2000 season to Cincinnati. Tony Perez's No. 24 has been retired by the Reds (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71603).
Griffey switched to No. 3 last season before the World Baseball Classic so his father, Ken Sr., could wear his old number as a coach in the international competition. Griffey continues to wear No. 3.
During his phone conversation with Selig, the commissioner raised the idea of allowing other players to wear No. 42.
"He asked me did I mind?" Griffey said. "I said no. I think everybody should be able to wear it, whoever wants to wear that number."
Yankees (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71596) reliever Mariano Rivera (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/player/85269) is the only active major leaguer still allowed to wear No. 42 on a regular basis. Selig expects players on other teams to follow Griffey's example.
"This is a wonderful gesture on Ken's part and a fitting tribute to the great Jackie Robinson and one, I believe, that all clubs will eagerly endorse," Selig said in a statement. "Jackie continues to be an inspiration to all of our players, and his impact will be felt for as long as our game is played." Every game on April 15 will honor Robinson in some way. The Reds (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71603) are playing the Cubs (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/71602) in Chicago that day.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

ALWAYS BUYING PHILLIES, PORTLAND BEAVERS AND PORTLAND MAVERICKS JERSEYS

geoff
04-04-2007, 09:41 PM
Yeah i heard that tonight while watching Mets and Cardinals game.What are these going to be worth if MLB do sell them.Is it going to be like the Mothers day bat craze.Only time will tell on this one.Geoff

bigtime59
04-05-2007, 07:43 AM
A couple of thoughts:
First, I think it's kind of stupid to celebrate the 60th anniversary of anything...
Second, I don't mind at all that Griffey made the request. I'm not so sure how I feel about MLBs "encouraging" other players to do so.
Third, I read somewhere that a proposal had been made that the winner of the Jackie Robinson Award be allowed to wear 42 the year after he won it. I think that would be kind of cool...

Mark
bigtime39@aol.com

TNTtoys
04-05-2007, 08:34 AM
I'm a little confused here...and I didn't realize it until I read this thread... Why if MLB retired Jackie Robinson's number for ALL major league baseball teams was Mariano Rivera allowed to wear it?

Eric
04-05-2007, 09:44 AM
It was retired for every team. If a player was wearing #42 at the time, when they retired or left the team that number would be retired. Mariano is the only #42 left.

MLB gave teams permission to wear 42 on April 15th. i read this morning Willie Randolph will be wearing it for the Mets

Eric

Eric
04-05-2007, 10:38 AM
Torii Hunter, Mike Cameron and Barry Bonds have also said they'll wear #42 as will the entire Los Angeles Dodgers team. They have a nationally televised game versus San Diego that night....

http://www.dailynews.com/dodgers/ci_5596995

staindsox
04-05-2007, 10:50 AM
I don't like the idea of players wearing the number. I wouldn't mind a patch or something, but the bottom line on this is the MLB or someone else will make a killing selling the jerseys and I don't like that. If the MLB collected every single 42 jersey, EVERY SINGLE ONE, and donated EVERY CENT from the sales to a charity, I would totally encourage it, but I doubt that will happen. I could see someone like Bonds selling it on his own site or giving it to one of his people to line their own pockets. Guys like that making money on Jackie and what he did for the game just disgusts me.

I actually didn't like his number being retired in the first place. I thought it was a hollow Bud Selig PC gesture to generate good publicity. It's like giving Dred Scott's decendants the Medal of Freedom to apologize for 100s of years of slavery...the gesture falls far too short for its intended result. I think it was done to make us feel better, not immortalize Jackie or to apologize for pre-1947 baseball.

allstarsplus
04-05-2007, 11:40 AM
Barry Bonds have also said they'll wear #42
http://www.dailynews.com/dodgers/ci_5596995

Great for Barry. We can only wonder who will retain ownership of that jersey after the game.

If he homers in that game, my guess is the jersey could sell in the $10,000 to $20,000 range.

Andrew

centerfieldsports.com
04-05-2007, 02:42 PM
This isn't the first time JR wore # 42 he also wore it in 1997 vs the Indians to honor Jackie on the 50th Anv.