It was 63 years ago today that Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in a game against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.
Major League Baseball is commemorating the event, as it has since the 50th anniversary in 1997. All players will wear No. 42 in the game today as a tribute to Robinson. The number has been retired throughout the game. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is the only active player still wearing it. Once he retires, it will only appear on outfield walls and on April 15.
As sports tributes go, that one is pretty awesome.
Each year, when Robinson's legacy is discussed, people talk about the dwindling number of African-American players in the major leagues. This year, according to USA Today, African-Americans represented 9.5 percent of the players on opening day rosters.
There are plenty of reasons for the decrease, including the emergence of basketball and football as alternatives and the influx of Latin and Asian players into the sport.
Baseball officials have implemented a number of programs in an attempt to revive interest , but it has been an uphill battle.
Earlier this spring, I spoke to Brewers reliever LaTroy Hawkins about this topic. He has a lot of very interesting theories, one of which is that the nature of the game, in which successful hitters fail seven out of 10 times, does not appeal to youngsters seeking instant gratification.
"In football, guys can score touchdowns or get interceptions," Hawkins said. "In basketball, you can keep track of points. In baseball, you can go 1 for 4 with three strikeouts and a nice play in the field and your team can win a game, but that's not really what gets kids excited."
There are no easy answers to these questions, but baseball officials are trying. The best thing baseball can do is market exciting young players like the Brewers' Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks, Atlanta's Jason Heyward and the Upton brothers, B.J. and Justin and continue to reach out in an effort to create new fans and win back those who have drifted away from the sport.
Jackie Robinson Day is a yearly reminder that the effort must continue.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
