10 HIGHLIGHTS of the 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
at Shea Stadium, April 15, 1997
1. Robinson’s grandson, Jesse Martin Simms (Sharon’s son), threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Mets catcher Todd Hundley. Simms will attend Jackie’s alma mater, UCLA, and play defensive back for the football team during the 1997-98 season.
2. Former TV actress Nell Carter, from Broadway’s hit play “Annie,” sang the National Anthem on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut.
3. Interim Commissioner Bud Selig, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, retired Jackie Robinson’s number 42 in perpetuity. After this season, no team will ever issue “42” again (during the regular season). Players currently wearing the number will be allowed to wear the number until they retire.
4. Former Oakland A’s outfielder Dave Henderson, Tom Goodwin (grand nephew of Negro League outfielder Rap Dixon) of the K.C. Royals, Butch Huskey of the N.Y. Mets, and Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox, wear number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.
5. Other players and coaches who wear number 42 are: coaches; San Diego’s Davey Lopes, Atlanta’s Ned Yost, Chicago Cubs’ Dan Radison, Philadelphia’s Galen Cisco, Minnesota’s Dick Such, and players; Florida’s Dennis Cook, Houston’s Jose Lima, Pittsburgh’s Jason Schmidt, San Francisco’s Kirk Rueter, Baltimore’s Lenny Webster, Cleveland’s Mike Jackson, Detroit’s Fernando Hernandez, Milwaukee’s Scott Karl, New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera, Oakland’s Buddy Groom and Texas’ Marc Sagmoen, who received the number earlier in the day.
6. Delino DeShields, Tom Goodwin, Deion Sanders and Ken Griffey, Jr., sometimes wear their stirrups high in honor of Jackie Robinson.
7. Ken Griffey, Jr., on the 50th anniversary of Jackie’s debut, changes to number 42, from his regular number of 24, to celebrate the occasion. Deion Sanders, of Cincinnati, shortens his jersey sleeves in honor of Jackie Robinson.
8. Selig’s directive forced three teams to retire their first uniform number; Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and the Toronto Blue Jays. To honor their first president, the late Carl Barger, the Florida Marlins had retired number 5 in honor of his favorite player, Joe DiMaggio. The number 42 was also shared by Billy Martin and Jim Umbricht.
9. A reported 54,047 fans, in 58 degree, but chilly weather, attended the 50th anniversary celebration at Shea Stadium to honor Jackie Robinson. Actual attendees through the turnstiles were 34,598.
10. President Bill Clinton, Bud Selig and Rachel Robinson gave a rare on-the-field presentation after the fifth inning. The ceremony lasted 15 minutes. Rhythm and Blues singer Tevin Campbell sang “The Impossible Dream.”
1. Robinson’s grandson, Jesse Martin Simms (Sharon’s son), threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Mets catcher Todd Hundley. Simms will attend Jackie’s alma mater, UCLA, and play defensive back for the football team during the 1997-98 season.
2. Former TV actress Nell Carter, from Broadway’s hit play “Annie,” sang the National Anthem on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut.
3. Interim Commissioner Bud Selig, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, retired Jackie Robinson’s number 42 in perpetuity. After this season, no team will ever issue “42” again (during the regular season). Players currently wearing the number will be allowed to wear the number until they retire.
4. Former Oakland A’s outfielder Dave Henderson, Tom Goodwin (grand nephew of Negro League outfielder Rap Dixon) of the K.C. Royals, Butch Huskey of the N.Y. Mets, and Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox, wear number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.
5. Other players and coaches who wear number 42 are: coaches; San Diego’s Davey Lopes, Atlanta’s Ned Yost, Chicago Cubs’ Dan Radison, Philadelphia’s Galen Cisco, Minnesota’s Dick Such, and players; Florida’s Dennis Cook, Houston’s Jose Lima, Pittsburgh’s Jason Schmidt, San Francisco’s Kirk Rueter, Baltimore’s Lenny Webster, Cleveland’s Mike Jackson, Detroit’s Fernando Hernandez, Milwaukee’s Scott Karl, New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera, Oakland’s Buddy Groom and Texas’ Marc Sagmoen, who received the number earlier in the day.
6. Delino DeShields, Tom Goodwin, Deion Sanders and Ken Griffey, Jr., sometimes wear their stirrups high in honor of Jackie Robinson.
7. Ken Griffey, Jr., on the 50th anniversary of Jackie’s debut, changes to number 42, from his regular number of 24, to celebrate the occasion. Deion Sanders, of Cincinnati, shortens his jersey sleeves in honor of Jackie Robinson.
8. Selig’s directive forced three teams to retire their first uniform number; Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and the Toronto Blue Jays. To honor their first president, the late Carl Barger, the Florida Marlins had retired number 5 in honor of his favorite player, Joe DiMaggio. The number 42 was also shared by Billy Martin and Jim Umbricht.
9. A reported 54,047 fans, in 58 degree, but chilly weather, attended the 50th anniversary celebration at Shea Stadium to honor Jackie Robinson. Actual attendees through the turnstiles were 34,598.
10. President Bill Clinton, Bud Selig and Rachel Robinson gave a rare on-the-field presentation after the fifth inning. The ceremony lasted 15 minutes. Rhythm and Blues singer Tevin Campbell sang “The Impossible Dream.”
