On April 15, 1947, something happened in the game of major league baseball that never happened before, and that something (or someone) was Jack Roosevelt Robinson. The Brooklyn Dodgers were playing the then-Boston Braves, and number 42 was penciled into the line-up that day to hit 2nd in the order and to play first base. It was the start of an auspicious career for Jackie Robinson, who went 0-3 on the day against the Boston ace Johnny Sain, while cleanly fielding all 11 put-outs at first base.

As we know, the rest of his career not only altered the baseball world, but the world as we know it today. Prejudice is an evil and acidic mindset that remains part of our society, and what Jackie Robinson endured during his career and lifetime deserves not only our respect, but our commitment to honor his lifetime achievements.

What you may (or may not) know is that Jackie spent the previous year playing for the then Montreal ROYALS, and the previous year before that, the Kansas City MONARCHS. As our team take the field this afternoon wearing our city’s namesake jersey, I think we need to pause for a moment and remember just exactly what this opportunity means today, and what we represent.

We will never know what it was like to play in his shoes, but we can do our part to fill our own shoes. Play the game with honor; play the game with respect for those who came before us. Play the game hard, love the game that has provided us with so much joy. Play the game for those you share the dugout with and for the ghosts who are playing with you from the past. And at least for today, we should all be playing for #42. - Coach Nelson