Un-Retired

[Guest Edgy DC]

Randolph set to become the eighth 42 in Met history.

Randolph to wear Jackie Robinson's uniform number 42 to mark anniversary

By JOHN DELCOS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

ST. LOUIS - Mets manager Willie Randolph thinks it is a great idea and will be first in line for the uniform.

Responding to a request from Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., commissioner Bud Selig yesterday temporarily suspended the official retirement of Jackie Robinson's uniform No. 42, and invited each team to have a uniformed member wear the number on April 15, the 60th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.

"It's a tremendous honor for me to wear that number,'' Randolph said. "To wear the number is special to me.''

On April 15, 1997, Selig retired the No. 42 throughout baseball, with the exception of players who were wearing the number.

The only player currently wearing No. 42 is Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees' Robinson Cano, who was named for Jackie Robinson, changed his number to 24 this year, reversing the digits in Robinson's number.

Selig made the decision to suspend that ruling for the day after getting a call from Griffey.

"Jackie continues to be an inspiration to all our players, and his impact will be felt for as long as our game is played,'' Selig said in a statement released by Major League Baseball.

"I thank Ken for finding another special way to mark Jackie Robinson Day.''

Griffey's father, Ken, also played in the major leagues, so he grew up in a family aware of Robinson's impact.

"If it weren't for Jackie Robinson, I wouldn't be able to put on the uniform I'm wearing today,'' Griffey Jr. said in a statement. "He should be an inspiration not only to baseball players, but to anyone who fights prejudice and hatred.''

Many of today's young black ballplayers have gotten a bad rap for their lack of knowledge when it comes to Robinson's legacy.

"I won't say I've studied him,'' Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge said. "But as a black athlete you are aware of the history behind him. As a black athlete, when somebody talks about Jackie Robinson, you know what he's about.''

Around the horn:

Randolph started Shawn Green last night, saying he wanted to give him "a chance to get into a groove.'' Green struck out twice Tuesday, including once with runners on second and third and one out. It is possible Milledge might get the start over Green tomorrow against Atlanta left-hander Mark Redman. � Oliver Perez will start tomorrow at Atlanta. He is 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA lifetime against the Braves. � Top pitching prospects Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey will start for, respectively, the Mets' Triple-A and Double-A affiliates. � Mike Pelfrey will pitch for Single-A St. Lucie on Saturday. � The seven double plays the Mets turned in the first two games were the most since the Cleveland Indians had seven in the first two games of the 1960 season.

[metirish]

Top stuff by Griffey and Randolph,nice way to pay tribute.

I admire the honesty of Milledge,would have been easy to BS right there when asked about Robinson.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Cool.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Willie makes 10, not 8.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's what I get for not checking the definitive source.

I counted:

Mo Vaughn
Roger McDowell
Larry Elliott
Ron Hodges
Butch Huskey
Ron Taylor
Somebody Else

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Not all 30 teams have an African-American ballplayer, do they?

I wonder if any white guys will be honoring Jackie? It will be interesting to see a rundown of the 30 players who wear number 42 that day.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Chuck Taylor
Tom Hall (one game only)
Hank Webb (short time only)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I asssume any team that doesn't currently have an African-American ballplayer has an Afro-Latino ballplayer, who would have been pretty close to just as banned as African Americans before Robinson.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'd be shocked if Cliff weren't representin' for the Cubs.

[metirish]

Derek Lee might want to honor Jackie,or Jacque Jones .

[Guest Edgy DC]

Why would Derek Lee want to honor Jacque Jones?

This post was paid for by a generous grant from the Willets Point Memorial Smartass Preservation Foundation.

[soupcan]

Ever see 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings'?

It was a '70's movie about a barn-storming baseball team made up of black players in the late '30s early '40s. This discussion reminded me of it because Richard Pryor played a ballplayer who was black but used a Hispanic name and told everyone he was Cuban because he felt it gave him a better shot at playing in the Major Leagues.

[Guest Edgy DC]

soupcan wrote: Ever see 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings'?

Probably more times than is healthy.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

The entire Dodgers team will wear 42 that day

[metirish]

African American players in the Majors.

Angels - Garret Anderson , Gary Matthews,Darren Oliver

Astros - none that I can see.

Athletics - Milton Bradley,Shannon Stewart

Blue Jays - Royce Clayton ,Vernon Wells

Braves - none that I can see

Brewers - Rickie Weeks ,Tony Gwynn,Bill Hall ,

Cardinals - Preston Wilson

Cubs - Jacque Jones,Cliff floyd,Derek Lee,

Devil Rays - Edwin Jackson,born in Germany...,B.J. Upton ,Carl Crawford ,Delmon Young

Dimondbacks - Tony Clark , Orlando Hudson,

Dodgers - Marlon Anderson ,Juan Pierre????,

Giants - Barry Bonds, Dave Roberts9 born in Japan), Randy Winn

Indians - none that I can see

Mariners - Jason Ellison ,

Marlins - Dontrelle Willis ,

Mets - Lastings Milledge,Damion Easley ???

Nationals - Ray King ,Dmitri Young ,Jerome Williams

Orioles - Freddie Bynum ,Jay Paton

Padres - Mike Cameron

Phillies - Tom Gordon ,Jimmy Rollins ,Ryan Howard

Pirates - Shawn Chacon

Rangers - None that I can see

Red Sox - Coco Crisp????

Reds - Ken Griffey ,

Rockies - LaTroy Hawkins ,

Royals - Emil brown , Reggie sanders

Tigers - Gary Sheffield , Curtis Granderson ,Marcus Thames

Twins - Torii Hunter ,Jason Bartlett ?? ,

White Sox - Jermaine Dye ,

Yankees - Derek Jeter

I did a quick scan of Rosters and as far as I can tell here are the African American players in the majors.

[soupcan]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: The entire Dodgers team will wear 42 that day

That's a bit ridiculous.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's some good work.

Juan Pierre is definitely in the club.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I only found out last year that Derek Jeter was black.

He must qualify under that "one drop of blood" clause.

[dinosaur jesus]

It's a bit ironic if the Pirates don't have any black players, considering they were the first team to put nine on the field at the same time. That included Latin Americans, of course. But Shawn Chacon is African-American, isn't he?

[nymr83]

the teams metirish couldnt think of any:

astros- none i can think of
braves- willy aybar?
indians- none
orioles - freddy bynum, jay payton
pirates- shawn chacon?
rangers - kenny lofton
royals - none

[metirish]

Prince Fielder fooled me,his Bio said born in Ontario.CA...which I assumed was Canada,it's California..

My list was culled from the 25 man roster so I am sure I missed some,thanks 83.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nah. Derek's biracial.

[nymr83]

emil brown and reggie sanders for the Royals

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Wow, that's Jeter's dad???

I had no idea that he was Al Roker's son.

[soupcan]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I only found out last year that Derek Jeter was black. He must qualify under that "one drop of blood" clause.

Octoroon!

[Farmer Ted]

Jeter is bi-racial so he is only eligible to wear a 4 or a 2. 4 is retired so he has to wear a number that lame players wear, 2. Oh, wait a minute...

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Macaroon!

[metirish]

So there are maybe 60+ African Americans in the majors,not a lot ,hardly any are starting pitchers..Willis the only one?....

[Frayed Knot]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I only found out last year that Derek Jeter was black. He must qualify under that "one drop of blood" clause.

Yancy obviously never watches Yanqui games where Jeter's parents (during those games when they're in attendance) are shown on TV about every 12 seconds.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

The only Yankee games I've seen in the last 20 years or so were games in which they played the Mets.