Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
April 13, 2007, Washington Post

For a Day, 42 Is Again No. 1

On Sunday, baseball celebrates the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in the major leagues. Dozens of players, including Cincinnati Reds slugger Ken Griffey Jr., will wear Robinson's number, 42, that day to honor him.

Lots of kids know that Jackie Robinson was the first black player in Major League Baseball during the modern era (since 1900). But some kids may not know the story behind Robinson's struggle to break baseball's so-called color barrier.

Robinson was born in 1919 and grew up in California. He was a terrific athlete who starred in football, basketball, baseball and track during high school and college. But Robinson's athletic skills did not mean that he was a cinch to be a pro star.

Although it is hard to believe now, in those years blacks were not allowed to play on major league teams. Even great players such as pitcher Satchel Paige and catcher Josh Gibson were allowed to play only in the Negro Leagues. Robinson played there, too -- for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945.

But Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers (the team later moved to Los Angeles), broke the tradition. He signed Robinson not because he was the best black player, but because Rickey thought Robinson could stand up to the abuse that many fans, players and even managers would aim at a black player.

Rickey knew that if Robinson fought with players or umpires, some whites would use that as an excuse to say that blacks should not be allowed to play baseball with whites. So Rickey made Robinson promise that he would not fight back during his first two major league seasons. Robinson kept that promise even when pitchers threw balls at his head, runners spiked his feet and fans screamed names at him that no one should hear.

Despite this tremendous pressure, Robinson was a star. He batted .311 overall and was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949. In his 10-year, Hall of Fame career he made six all-star teams, showing everyone that black players deserved to be in the major leagues. Soon, teams signed many more black stars, including Henry Aaron, Willie Mays and Ernie Banks.

Sometimes people talk about courage in sports. Just last week, former champ Nick Faldo said this year's Masters golf champion would need courage to make a big shot. But that kind of strength, the nerve to hit a last-second basket or a late-inning home run, wins only a game or tournament.

Jackie Robinson's achievement was far more important. His courage -- to perform under the most intense pressure and not fight back -- helped an entire group of people get the chance to play a game they had long deserved to play. His courage didn't help only himself and his team; it helped the whole country become better.

And that is why so many of today's major leaguers will wear No. 42, Jackie Robinson's number, with pride this Sunday.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

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