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January 31, 2008
Here's To You Mr. Robinson
Today marks Jackie Robinson's 89th birthday, and the Dodgers are celebrating it by educating the youngins.
The Dodgers, in partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, will celebrate the first "Jackie Robinson Legacy Day" at the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium telling the story of Robinson to over 200 school children.
School children from Mayberry Elementary, Atwater Avenue Elementary, 42nd Street Elementary School, Jackie Robinson Academy, and Roynon Elementary School along with Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars will learn about the contribution Jackie Robinson made not only to baseball but also to the civil rights movement.
Among the people talking to the kids are Jesse Simms, Robinson's grandson, Kathy Robinson-Young, Robinson's neice, the first Cy Young winner Don Newcombe, Sweet Lou Johnson, Tommy Lasorda and representatives from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
In addition to all the baseball accolades he received (1947 Rookie of the Year, 1949 NL MVP, six All Star Game appearances and a 1955 World Series win), he became involved with the NAACP after his baseball career and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon.
One story that I absolutely love came after the 1956 season. The Dodgers decided to trade Robinson to the New York Baseball Giants for left-handed pitcher Dick Littlefield and $30,000 in cash. Robinson decided to retire instead voiding the trade. Not even the great Jackie Robinson would wear the Giants uniform. Hear that Dusty Baker?
"Jackie Robinson Legacy Day" begins at 11:30 this morning and lasts until 1:30 pm. Happy birthday Jackie!!
AP file photo
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Dear Jimmy,
This may be a strange question - but I used to collect Dodger baseball cards when I was little -during the Manny Mota, Steve Garvey era. Why do the players always look so short on the baseball cards? Is it the Dodger photographer's angle, or are great baseball players notoriously short?
- Wondering in Burbank
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I don't know. That's a good question. I do know that Jackie Robinson was 5'11", so it's not like he was really short.
But it could be due to how baggy baseball uniforms originally were. Look at how tiny Juan Pierre looks in his uni. It could be sorta like that I guess.
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Yeah, I can imagine Carson saying, "Those socks cut your legs right in half!"