On Jackie Robinson Day, Major League Baseball teams honored the legendary player in various ways. The Red Sox wore old-template jerseys, while the Padres “42”-ed all of their batting helmets. A tradition that continues every year is the absence of front numbers on jerseys. However, the Reds made a departure from their usual attire by wearing red alternate tops.
Angels pitcher Patrick Sandoval unfortunately fell victim to mismatched greys, but players across the league wore caps adorned with an embroidered patch in honor of Robinson. Umpires also sported the cap patch, although they did not change their numbers to 42. The Brewers had a helmet decal to mimic the patch, while players mostly wore grey socks. Pirates’ Connor Joe stood out by wearing blue socks, and Andrew McCutchen even wore one grey and one blue sock.
Accessories such as shoes and batting gloves were also “42”-ized for the day. Players wore “Breaking Barriers” warm-up shirts before their games, and four players even made their big league debuts on Jackie Robinson Day. Rachel Robinson, the wife of Jackie Robinson, visited Mets players and participated in pregame ceremonies at Citi Field.
Overall, teams and players paid tribute to the trailblazing athlete in a variety of ways, showcasing the lasting impact Jackie Robinson had on the sport of baseball.
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