Robinson's daughter says let Dad's 42 stand alone

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/385275p-326967c.html

Robinson's daughter says
let Dad's 42 stand alone

BY MATT MARRONE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Jackie Robinson, who famously broke baseball's color barrier in 1947, stands as the only player to have his number retired throughout the major leagues - and his daughter would like to keep it that way.

Sharon Robinson, speaking last night at a birthday celebration for her father at the ESPN Zone restaurant in Times Square, told the Daily News that she recognizes Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente's role as an inspiration to Latin American athletes.

But while many have supported a recent movement to pay tribute to Clemente, Robinson feels the league-wide recognition currently reserved only for her trailblazing father should remain so.

"I'm very close to the Clemente family and I have tremendous respect for Roberto Clemente's accomplishments," said Robinson, a Jackie Robinson Foundation board member and daughter of the group's founder, Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow. "To my understanding, the purpose of retiring my father's number is that what he did changed all of baseball, not only for African-Americans but also for Latinos, so I think that purpose has been met. When you start retiring numbers across the board, for all different groups, you're kind of diluting the original purpose."

In September, the Daily News polled readers on whether Major League Baseball should add Clemente's No. 21 to Robinson's No. 42 - a tribute many think fitting, especially as more and more Latin American players make their mark on baseball and cite Clemente as a hero.

The more than 14,000 votes in the poll were nearly split, with 51% agreeing that Clemente's impact on the game was indeed worthy of such an honor.

Last night's event, commemorating what would have been Jackie Robinson's 87th birthday on Jan. 31, highlighted the goals of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which works to preserve the civil rights legacy of its namesake, in part by providing four-year college scholarships to academically gifted students of color.

The group also is hoping to install a permanent Jackie Robinson museum somewhere in New York City.

In the more than 33 years since her father's death, MLB - which celebrates Jackie Robinson Day every April 15, the anniversary of his pro debut in 1947 - has come a long way, said Robinson.

"I think (commissioner Bud Selig) is very committed to diversity within baseball," she said. "It's an ongoing process and we win some and lose some, but overall I believe the commitment is there."

Robinson also pointed to last year's world champion Chicago White Sox as a perfect model of diversity and inclusiveness.

While Sharon Robinson said she doesn't believe Clemente's number should be retired, she also doesn't underestimate his worth.

"I totally think that Roberto's accomplishments should continue to be spotlighted and highlighted," she said, "as a major part of baseball, and American culture - as well as Puerto Rico's culture."

Originally published on January 24, 2006

[Baseball Guru]

I totally agree with her.. She is absolutely correct when she says " When you start retiring numbers across the board, for all different groups, you're kind of diluting the original purpose."

[rockin500]

agreed. i see no point in doing it. sure roberto was an excellent humanitarian, but still, how did he break down barriers?

[Baseball Guru]

Agreed!

[imgreat95]

honestly, i disagree with what she is saying, but I also disagree with the fact that his number 21 should be retired. I also disagree with Robinson's #42 being retired. I believe that it brings more honor and recognition to a player when someone wears his number than it does to have it retired.

Take the AFC championship game for instance... how many times during that game did we hear "Ben Roethlisberger wears the #7 in honor of his childhood hero John Elway." Had the #7 been retired, John Elway would not have been mentioned in that game as being ANYONE'S hero. Thus, i believe bringing more glory to him than otherwise.

[BayStateBabe]

And yet, Jackie's number IS retired and people still talk about him. They talk about Roberto as well even though is number isn't retired. Why? Because their accomplishments transcend the game. That's a far cry from the on field accomplishments that made Elway the childhood hero of Rothlisberger. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's apples and oranges.

That said, while Roberto was a great humanitarian tragically cut down while on a mission of mercy, he does not deserve to have his number retired across MLB. He has an award named after him in recognition of his efforts in that area.

Jackie on the other hand, was a pioneer not just for African-Americans in MLB but all minorities. He also paved the way for the civil rights movement. In the process, he endured predjudice, hardship, death threats, etc and did so with grace and dignity. That is why his number is retired across MLB and deservedly so. While Roberto did great things, it is not on the same far-reaching, culture changing level.