LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers players, in full uniform, walked together through the Center-Field Gate on Friday afternoon, gathered around the statue of Jackie Robinson, listened to an emotional 20-minute speech and took pictures.
They quickly retreated to the clubhouse, took off their uniforms and began preparing for their game against the Cincinnati Reds.
A man stayed.
Dodgers all-star third baseman Justin Turner is simply not ready to leave.
Turner stayed and talked to everyone who had a camera, notepad or microphone, and he kept his eyes on the person he was talking to with the group.
Finally, he saw an opening.
David Robinson, son of the immortal Jackie Robinson, was alone. Turner came rushing in, stretched out his right hand, and shook it vigorously.
“Thanks for coming out,” Turner said. “Thank you. Thank you. It means so much to us.
Talked for a few minutes. Turner pointed to the surface of his white uniform, with the number “Dodgers” on the front and “42” on the back, and told Robinson what it meant to him personally.
“There are a lot of responsibilities, a lot of responsibilities when you wear this jersey,” Turner told him, adding that “there is a chance to do something better.”
As Turner began to walk away, he asked Robinson if he would like to play third floor in the game.
“Well, not if you’ve trying to win,” 70-year-old Robinson said with a laugh.
On the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color barrier, Robinson carried on his father’s legacy throughout the day. He spent Friday morning with Dodgers starter David Price, who read the book “I’m Jackie Robinson” at an elementary school in Pasadena, California. David Robinson and Dodgers outfielder Mookie Bets spent several hours at Jackie Robinson’s former high school, John Muir, where a mural of the great tribute to baseball was unveiled. David Robinson spoke with the entire Dodgers team later that afternoon in front of Jackie Robinson’s statue, and then took his mother to the Dodger Stadium grounds before the game.
Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s 99-year-old widow, entered the stadium in a golf cart, where she was warmly greeted by Dodger Luminaires and Lakers Great Magic Johnson. Several Dodgers players walked in to say hello. Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pam ran from the dugout to meet her. Edwin Jackson and Curtis Grandersson of the Players Alliance publicly thanked him and presented him with the Jackie Robinson jacket.
Knowing the great impact he had on Jackie Robinson’s footprint and her role in history, the great crowd gave her many loving, emotional compliments.
“Every time she’s around, she lights up the whole arena,” Turner said. “A lot of people talked about Jackie and I think about what he endured and all he did, but I think she didn’t get enough recognition for meeting it with him.”
The last time Rachel and Jackie Robinson were on the basement was when Jackie was giving a speech before the 2nd game of the 1972 World Series. While it’s good that baseball has finally been integrated, he said it’s time to see a black man as a manager.
Jackie Robinson died nine days later – three years before Frank Robinson became the first black manager in baseball history.
Now, here’s Rachel, looking at the Dodgers’ Duckout and seeing Dave Roberts – the first black manager in franchise history.
“It’s emotional when I let my mind go there,” Roberts said. “Jackie was about to move forward, so it’s certainly fair to appreciate how far we have come, but most importantly, where we need to go.
“That is what motivates and challenges all of us to make more and more improvements and changes.”
Major league baseball has certainly improved, but only 6.8% of the black population are players, with two black managers and one black man in charge of baseball operations.
This is no different from society, says David Robinson, citing inequalities in employment, pay, education and the judicial system.
“Where have we come from as a nation in the last 75 years?” Robinson said. “Do we really unite ourselves? Do we really create equality? Is there any consistency in lucrative employment that all Americans can achieve? Are we united as a nation and then strengthened by that solidarity with our neighbors around the world?
“It simply came to our notice then [Jackie] He will ask if he is here today because those questions are still right on the table of the challenges facing the United States now.
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Robinson spoke for 20 minutes, allowing the Dodgers to digest every word. Like his father, they do not have to be mere baseball players. They can help make a difference.
“I hope Jackie Robinson will say that we will make progress when we create a plan as a people, think as a people, gather our resources as a people, and then integrate that plan into American development and integrate that plan into global development,” David Robinson said.
“As a nation we have things to do together. There are things that African Americans have to take on our own shoulders to represent our own interests. We must build our economic, social and political integration on a global basis for our own benefit to feed the development of humanity.
Roberts nodded in agreement, bringing each player out in full uniform to listen to Robinson. He owns a site of his own and scolds the MLB for shortening the draft to 20 rounds, believing it would greatly affect the chances of black kids reaching the big leagues. He reminded everyone that he was selected in the 28th round to have a 10-year Major-League career. He released a statement through his outfit on Friday, wearing socks with the image of Robinson’s face on the Dodger uniform and shoes with the words “We’re getting up together”.
“Baseball … it’s bigger than us individually,” Roberts said. “Like David said today, we all have a platform and opportunity and responsibility. Why not use it because I encourage my players to talk about things they believe in.
“I think we need to constantly challenge each other.”
This is powerful news for Robinson Dodgers and anyone listening. Celebrating Jackie Robinson’s 75th birthday is not enough.
“When you ask about family, and experiences and what they did,” Turner said, “It’s very special. You know the whole story, but it’s a different perspective, a heavy comment coming from David.
“To change the course of the country, to change the direction of the country, to create opportunities for many, to spread wisdom in all that Jackie and his family endured, to stand in front of the statue, is truly humble.”
The 75th anniversary celebration will end on Saturday morning, with Robinson and his mother scheduled to fly to New York, but Robinson hopes his words will always be remembered by the Dodgers, which will have a lasting impact.
“You have to have faith,” Robinson said. “One of the successes of 1947 was the creation of spirit, hope, self – identity and American identity within African Americans. So you have to take that spirit. Take that belief.
“Keeping faith and having the spirit is a big deal, but if it’s not within a plan, it really does not go that far.”
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