I went to the Yankee game last night. Tickets were $5, I got a cap, my buddy bought me a beer, we sat outside.
I can’t tell you how many times during the game we asked each other “who was that?” after a hit. A few times you knew who it was? Jeter. Normally that 2 on his back clues me in.
Somewhere on the Internet yesterday I read a piece that suggested the 42 is too gimmicky. Wouldn’t it be more powerful if one player on every team wore it?
Rather than the generic “everyone is wearing 42 tonight” story wouldn’t it be more powerful to read why David Wright asked if he could have the honor in 2011?
I heard some fans behind me asking why everyone was wearing 42. They decided that “it’s one of those memorial nights for some old player.”
My kid knows about Jackie now because of the Rotunda, and with the Metsification of Citi Field we can now enjoy Jackie’s legacy without being ticked off at Fred Wilpon. You really can admire Tom Seaver and Jackie Robinson.
My kid knows who was “the best player ever” without retiring #3 across baseball.
I think the 42 thing has become something that will diminish and lose its impact. I’ll probably get called a communist for this but I think about what has happened to God Bless America.
In 2001-2002 that was a very powerful moment at games. Now it’s often a thing you do crammed in with Take Me Out To The Ballgame and a t-shirt giveaway. No impact, no resonance.
Stars and stripes caps? That very quickly deteriorated into a marketing gimmick.
Don’t let Jackie Robinson day become a gimmick. Maybe I’m off base here. I agree with the “one player” idea. How about you?
