Robinson honored by Sox, MLB

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Another Day, Another Dollar
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CHICAGO -- Frank Thomas didn't need to be very specific when talking Thursday about Jackie Robinson's importance in regards to the modern baseball player.

"As a black player, his legacy means everything, to be honest," Thomas said of Robinson. "He bridged that gap and crossed that gap for us, so it's a special day."

Thursday marked the 57th anniversary of Robinson's first game on a Major League Baseball playing field, breaking the color barrier and changing the game forever. All 30 teams retired Robinson's uniform No. 42 in 1997. White Sox reliever Mike Jackson is one of seven players permitted to still wear that number -- because they wore the number at the time of its retirement -- but out of respect for Robinson currently wears No. 38.

The White Sox celebrated the first Major League Baseball Jackie Robinson Day on Thursday by inviting members of the Jackie Robinson West Little League and City Year to the afternoon game with the Royals. There also was a special video tribute to Robinson.

A Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar program was established by the White Sox in 2002, in conjunction with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Judge Garner III, a graduate of Rich Central High School in Matteson, Ill., was the first recipient of the scholarship and is currently in his second year of a four-year scholarship at Washington University in St. Louis.

"My focus is not on making millions of dollars, but making a difference in the community," Garner said. "Most of all, like Jackie Robinson did so many years ago, I want to establish myself as a role model for black males who come after me."

With the work of Major League baseball in recent years, many current players have a greater appreciation of Robinson and his heroic impact on baseball than ever before.

"I think now players know about him," Thomas said. "There wasn't always enough education about Jackie and what he did for black players in Major League baseball. What he did is something I will always remember."

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com
 

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