A Game of 21

[G-Fafif]

On September 15, MLB's Roberto Clemente Day, the Mets and Pirates, playing at Citi Field, will reportedly all dress in 21.



https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34549920/pittsburgh-pirates-new-york-mets-players-coaches-all-wear-no-21-roberto-clemente-dayhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34549920/pittsburgh-pirates-new-york-mets-players-coaches-all-wear-no-21-roberto-clemente-day

[Edgy MD]

Sounds like a pilot program. A trial balloon.



Curious that it's going down at Citi Field and not PNC Park.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Curious that it's going down at Citi Field and not PNC Park.

I think there's often something to the idea that the MLB offices are in NYC, so it's an easy trip for big wigs to rub elbows and what not.

[MFS62]

Arriba!

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Rather than mass retirement a la Jackie's 42, I'd like to see each club reserve #21 for someone they deem worthy of the honor. Wouldn't have to be someone Puerto Rican or Hispanic though I suspect it often would be.

[Edgy MD]

That's certainly workable. And to me, meaningful.



My general disagreement with teams retiring numbers, and now leagues retiring numbers isn't to dis' these legacies. It's just clear that the potential numbers available (at least as currently practiced) is finite, and the number of players available to have a number (at least in theory) is infinite, or at least ever expanding.



It's clearly an unsustainable practice. And yet, each number retired actually makes further retired numbers increasingly more likely.



I feel like retiring Jackie Robinson's number hasn't really made his legacy shine, so much as made a golden calf out of the two digits — almost literally, in that we have a statue of his number, the meaning and substance embedded in which is underwhelming (to my thinking anyhow).

[stevejrogers]

I'm curious as to the date of September 15th, as there isn't an obvious connection between Roberto and it, like birth, death, MLB debut (like Jackie Robinson around April 15th) or final game.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It was chosen because it's the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15.



This, of course, raises the question of why Hispanic Heritage Month starts on the 15th instead of the 1st.

[metsmarathon]

when i was growing up, i was told that hispanic meant half-spanish, intending it to be an derogation towards those who were not fully from spain, and were therefore some combination of native and (worse still) african blood alongside the (more pure and therefore good) spaniard blood. i'll pause here while you take a few moments to take all that in.



so, i'm reasonably certain (forgot the sarcasm tags, sorry) that this view is wrong, but there's a chance that such similar thinking is behind the half-month-to-half-month hispanic heritage month. "give 'em half a month for the spanish side, and half a month for the native and african side - we're so inclusive, and celebrate diversity so well, yay us!"

[Willets Point]

According to https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/official sources:

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

[metsmarathon]

Willets Point wrote: According to https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/official sources: The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

well, that's much better. whew!

[MFS62]

Just got my ballot to vote for the Roberto Clemente award winner (from mlb.com).

One player from each team was nominated.

The Mets player is Jim McCann.

I'll vote or him for the award if that also means I can vote him off the island.

Later