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Feature # 42

Chriso Written by Chriso, Friday January 15 2010
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 First, a disclaimer, I know I can not pick my features.

 Although one time I did beg, when I wrote "Mr. Editor, please make this a feature" (link provided).  And 40 other times, I have had articles featured.   

 

So while I can not pick a feature, if I could pick a feature for #42, it would be #42. 

 

Jackie Robinson is the greatest baseball player of all time.  The best? Well, that can be up for debate and difficult to measure over time and different eras.  But there can be no question about  Robinson's athletic ability.  He played four sports at UCLA.  He could have been a star in any of them.  But I am not talking about being the best, let's talk about greatness.  Here we are in an era where steroids make a player great.  How about going back to a time when character made a player great.  And that is what we can talk about when we talk about Robinson.  Clearly he was a man of great character. 

 

But how about another aspect that made him great, knowing when it is time to retire.  Again, we seem to be in a time when players hang on to the limelight too long.  And this is not a new phenomenon, players as great as Willie Mays and Babe Ruth both seemed to stay in the game too long.  But not Robinson, he was reported to be in a trade sending him to the rival Giants and the Dodgers were leaving Brooklyn.  Cue the exit.  Right on time. 

 

Above all of this was the most obvious contribution that Robinson made to the game of baseball, and society in general.  Robinson broke the barrier that existed in Major League Baseball.  It happened with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, with thanks to Branch Rickey, a man who had a good moral compass and an idea about social justice.  In 1997, MLB honored the 50th anniversary by retiring #42 for every major league team.   

 

Jackie Robinson.  #42.  Greatest baseball player.


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