The Red Sox honor Chuck Stobbs

Like with every team in baseball this evening, the Red Sox players all wore #42. It is a unique gesture from the Red Sox on this Jackie Robinson Day.

Remember, the Red Sox were the first team to give Jackie a try out. Back in the mid 1940s the Red Sox had Robinson and Sam Jethroe play for scouts at Fenway Park. Supposedly someone yelled "Get that ni--er off the field."

Seeing the Red Sox lost a racial discrimination suit 40 years later, I do not find the story to be outlandish.

The Red Sox had a chance to be the first team to integrate.
Instead, under the grip of the dreadful Yawkey family, they became the last.

The Red Sox could have lead the way in integration. Instead they were dragged kicking and screaming into it... up until the 1990s when Dan Duqette discovered that the Red Sox didn't even send scouts to the Dominican Republic.

In 1947, while Jackie Robinson changed history in Brooklyn wearing number 42, Chuck Stobbs was a pitcher for the Red Sox.

He wore #42 in Boston instead of Jackie.

Stobbs was 18 years old and a young phenom of a left handed pitcher. His career never blossomed and he is best remembered as a member of the Senators when he let up a 560 foot homer to Mickey Mantle that brought about the term "Tape Measure Shot."

He became a minor league coach before passing away in Florida a few years ago.

He wore the number 42 with pride for the Red Sox.
That's almost as good as having Jackie Robinson, isn't it?

I don't understand the people who are against the Jackie Robinson tribute

O.K. I understand intellectually why some people might think that removing the choice of wearing 42 and making it mandatory makes the decision less of a tribute and more of a requirement.

But so what?

Seriously, when you see the whole team wearing #42 it is memorable. I watched several games and seeing every player coming up with Jackie's number was almost startling.

It was a wonderful symbol of unity for a man who fought against division. And started the ball rolling that led to our current President being elected.

How could one or two players wearing that be as powerful?

Instead of saying "Hmmm... I thought Torii Hunter was #48" you could have people asking "Why is EVERYONE #42?"

And then discussions can start of Jackie's greatness. (And as I pointed out a few years ago, that greatness wasn't just social courage, but he improved baseball forever!) 

How is that a bad thing? And don't assume everyone knows about Jackie.

It's not that long ago that Vince Coleman stated so eloquently "I don't know nothing about no Jackie Robinson."

That's a triple negative... which means he knows nothing about Jackie Robinson.

So put the intellectual argument away for a day.

For once, I agree with Bud Selig.

And if THAT isn't a sign of how Jackie Robinson can unite us all, I don't know what is!