Robinson gets day at Shea
Rachel Robinson was torn about where to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her husband, Jackie, breaking baseball’s color barrier.
She ended up taking part in ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
The Mets paid tribute to Jackie Robinson on Friday night, five days after their game against the Washington Nationals was rained out on the actual anniversary of Robinson’s debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.
“I’m excited that I’m able to be in both places,” Rachel Robinson said before the pregame ceremonies, “because both teams have been very good to us as a foundation and my heart is with both of them and my fanship.”
Mets manager Willie Randolph wore No. 42 in honor of Robinson and escorted Rachel to the podium for the commemoration, along with Jackie’s son, David. Three tribute videos were shown on the video scoreboard at Shea Stadium, and the Mets also recognized four Negro League players during the ceremony.
“His heroics transcended far beyond baseball,” David Robinson said of his father. “… Tonight we honor a man and barriers broken 60 years ago.”
Rachel Robinson received a standing ovation from the crowd as it filed in for the game against N.L. East rival Atlanta.
“Being a kid growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, Jackie was my total inspiration,” Randolph said. “To be able to wear his No. 42 is a tremendous honor. It’s something that I’ll cherish and remember the rest of my life. … He meant a lot to a lot of us, not just athletes and African-Americans, but socially in this country, what he did off the field was monumental.”
Around the league
Minnesota Twins minor league pitcher Anthony Swarzak was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse under baseball’s minor league testing program. … Baltimore’s Jay Payton was activated from the 15-day disabled list after being sidelined by a strained left hamstring since an exhibition on March 26. … Florida slugger Miguel Cabrera was held out of the starting lineup because of a sore right oblique, but he and manager Fredi Gonzalez said the injury didn’t appear serious.