Dodgers’ Mookie Betts talks Jackie Robinson’s legacy, believes ‘nobody should wear’ No. 42

Main League Baseball on Friday will have a good time Jackie Robinson Day and the seventy fifth anniversary of the baseball icon breaking the colour barrier when he took the sphere for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Mookie Betts, who performs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, talked about what it means to him to be a Black baseball participant commemorating Robinson on the workforce the shortstop used to play for.

“Simply being blessed, you understand, simply being comfortable that I received the chance to do what I am doing now. Clearly every part he went by way of was tough, man, and sort of places issues in perspective as a result of my dad was alive then and simply realizing all of the tales that he is advised me and every part that he went by way of, which was just about nothing in comparison with what Jackie went by way of,” Betts stated in an interview on the “Black Diamonds” podcast. “It is only a blessing to have somebody who did it the best way he did it. Carried himself the best way he carried himself and was nonetheless nice. You already know, that is laborious to do.”

To have a good time Robinson this 12 months, every Main League participant will put on the No. 42 in Dodger Blue for the primary time. Each participant often wears the quantity for the day, however it’s the primary time every quantity can be in Dodger blue.

Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers prepares to catch a ball, 1951.
(Keystone/Getty Pictures)

Robinson’s quantity is retired all through baseball. Betts stated that due to what Robinson means to the sport and to the world, no person must be carrying No. 42.

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A portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson circa 1945.
(Hulton Archive/Getty Pictures)

“It is virtually like you do not wish to put on it. Like, I really feel like regardless that all people’s carrying it on the identical time, I really feel like no person ought to put on it. And simply because, you understand, individuals simply know Jackie Robinson, he broke the colour barrier,” he stated.

“However individuals like myself who know so many tales and know a lot that he went by way of, and being Black, it is like nah, no, I do not suppose anyone ought to put on it. I believe it must be retired up in each stadium, and you understand Jackie Robinson, you understand every part about him, it’s best to find out about him, find out about what he went by way of, find out about every part that actually all people, all of the Negro League guys went by way of. 

“However that quantity 42, you understand, I get it, he has a day and I’d by no means take that day away. However I am on the opposite facet. I believe you simply depart it up there and let it do its factor, and he is the final individual that ought to put on 42, you understand?”

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects for an RBI-double off Colorado Rockies beginning pitcher Kyle Freeland on April 8, 2022, in Denver.
(AP Photograph/David Zalubowski)

Betts is about to hitch the Robinson household at John Muir Excessive College in Pasadena, California, earlier than the workforce performs the Cincinnati Reds. The college will unveil a mural of Robinson, who starred in varied sports activities on the college within the Thirties.

The Related Press contributed to this report.