TW: Jackie Robinson day was Wednesday. The "what would Jackie do" quote from Dusty Baker resonated. I have a feeling in the future kids will hear "what would Obama do" as well. Just like with Robinson but perhaps even more so the quote will not be relevant only to those with African-American heritages. They both appear to have a uncommon gracefulness.
From Hal McCoy at Dayton News:
"Jerry Hairston Jr. [infielder for Cincinnati Reds] is a proud guy - proud to wear No. 42 like every other major-leaguer Wednesday in honor of Jackie Robinson.
Hairston’s grandfather, Sam, played in the Negro Leagues, “And won the Triple Crown one year, plus he played with and against Jackie on All-Star teams,” he said.
“I remember the stories my grandfather used to tell,” Hairston added. “And Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier? What a tremendous feat, not only from a baseball standpoint, but socially. Some may argue that it started the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. said it helped things get going.
“To see the way Jackie thrived and succeeded on the baseball field, well, this definitely has a significance,” Hairston added. “The good thing about it is that whether you are black, you are white or you are Latino, you’re wearing 42. And that’s the way it should be. It’s great for baseball to be unified in this way.”
Hairston’s grandfather, Sam, played in the Negro Leagues, “And won the Triple Crown one year, plus he played with and against Jackie on All-Star teams,” he said.
“I remember the stories my grandfather used to tell,” Hairston added. “And Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier? What a tremendous feat, not only from a baseball standpoint, but socially. Some may argue that it started the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. said it helped things get going.
“To see the way Jackie thrived and succeeded on the baseball field, well, this definitely has a significance,” Hairston added. “The good thing about it is that whether you are black, you are white or you are Latino, you’re wearing 42. And that’s the way it should be. It’s great for baseball to be unified in this way.”
[Reds] MANAGER DUSTY Baker...obtain[ed] a videotape of The Jackie Robinson Story and had his 9-year-old son, Darren, watch it.
“Most African American kids were Dodger fans because of Jackie Robinson, including my dad,” said Baker. “My brother and I were the only African American kids in our school and we got into a lot of fights. I remember my father always telliing us, ‘Just remember, what would Jackie do?’ I heard those words from my dad all the time.”
No comments:
Post a Comment