Major League Baseball is honoring my fraternity brother on Sunday.
That would be one Jackie Robinson, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
On April 15, 1947 Robinson, a UCLA graduate, became the first black player in MLB history. Well, one should say the first “official” black player because there are quite few stories of folks passing off as Cuban or white that were indeed African-American in the league’s earliest days.
While I have been critical of MLB, and sometimes the Cardinals, of taking a cavalier attitude toward minority participation on the field and in the stands, the home team will present a touching tribute to Robinson’s heroics before the 1:15 p.m. game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The nationally televised celebration from Dodgers Stadium before the L.A. Dodgers game against the San Diego Padres.
Joining Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, for that ceremony will be their daughter Sharon Robinson, several of Robinson’s former teammates including pitchers Don Newcombe and Tommy Lasorda, Commissioner Bud Selig, Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars and other guests.
A side story on Newcombe. He overcame alcoholism just in time to save his life, he once told me, and he also shared the exact words that Johnny Roseboro used that sparked Juan Marichal to bop him upside the head with a bat on August 22, 1965. I have to tell you that story in person. Foul language is involved.
But back to Jackie and the St. Louis tribute.
“I think we’re going to have the second-best celebration on Sunday,” said Marty Hendin, Cardinals vice president of community relations.
The Cards’ celebration will feature Sonya Pankey, Jackie Robinson’s granddaughter, and Beth Lewis, Branch Rickey’s granddaughter. Rickey was the Brooklyn Dodgers executive that signed Robinson to his historic contract.
Johnny Sain threw the first pitch that Robinson ever faced and Sain’s wife will be at Busch Stadium on Sunday.
All Cardinal players will also wear No. 42.
Ken Griffey Jr. announced he would wear No. 42 and he was applauded. Barry Bonds hinted he might wear it as well, and was immediately greeted with disagreement.
“We’re very proud to honor Jackie Robinson in this way,” Hendin said.
Preston Wilson is also scheduled to speak Sunday. He is the lone black player on the Cardinals’ roster, a testament to the fact that MLB could use a few more African-American players – actually a lot more black players.
While Robinson is being honored for his heroics, the Redbirds – and all teams – should begin thinking of ways to nationally honor Curt Flood.
Robinson played for the Dodgers from 1947-56. At the end of the 1956 season, Robinson was sold to the New York Giants for $30,000 and some guy you never heard of. Robinson had no contract at that time, but did not have the right to free agency because it didn’t exist. The “reserve clause” basically made you the property of the team you signed with until they decided to trade or sell you. Athletic slavery is the best team for that system.
Fourteen years after Robinson retired, Flood took on baseball by refusing to accept a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies. He lost and lost big.
But years later, Flood’s stand resulted in free agency. Players who were no longer under contract could never be treated like Robinson – and thousands of others – again.
Robinson’s career was historic. Flood’s principled stand is almost as important.
The Cardinals should take a bow for honoring Robinson is such fine fashion. Next year, let’s see the team all wear No. 21 on a sunny Sunday afternoon before a packed house.