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42

So, I'm not really one to go on a tear around here, and as you can see if you so choose, my commenting is inversely related to the amount of schoolwork I'm assigned and I hardly ever put up a fanpost. Unfortunately, when I read THIS article, I got pretty chapped. 

A quote from that article:  "By request of Commissioner Bud Selig [...] all big league players and uniformed personnel have been asked to wear the late Hall of Famer's famous No. 42 on the field when the 30 teams celebrate the occasion."

First of all, I have all the respect in the world for Jackie Robinson, and in no way am I biased towards or against any particular social, cultural or ethnic group.  A couple years back, on the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut in the majors, I thought it was really neat when Griffey asked to wear 42, and that it was a meaningful and thoughtful tribute.  I was less enamored last season when entire teams took the field wearing 42 (Tampa? Seriously?).  This most recent permutation of Griffey's originally good idea has gone way, way too far. 

I've always been under the impression that when someone has their number retired, that number belongs to them, on that team.  So, when MLB retired his number throughout the sport in 1997, one could argue that it was a statement that 42 belongs to Robinson throughout the game.  Here's the point:  This was a man who, upon his trade to the Giants, retired.  Two days from now, the rival team that he hated so much will all be wearing his number, along with everyone else in baseball.

I think this is pretty tasteless.  It cheapens the retiring in the first place, which wasn't a bad idea initially. At this point, the widespread nature that this has become is a little bit of a disservice to Robinson, and it's all Selig's fault.  What a Jackass.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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