Rachel Robinson is three months shy of her 100th birthday. It has been 75 years since her husband, Jackie, played his first regular season game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking a ban on Black players that had persisted since the 19th century.
What he told her that morning – “I’ll be number 42, just in case you have trouble picking me out” – is cause for celebration every April 15, when every Major League Baseball player wears jersey No. 42 in Robinson’s honor.
99 year-old Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Tony Goslin of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the outfield wearing #42 during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers grounds crew prepares to stencil #42 behind the mound during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
99 year-old Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson with manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Students from Longfellow Elementary school in Pasadena during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
99 year-old Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson with her son David Robinson during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers stand during the National Anthem wearing #42 during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing #42 prepares to autograph a young fans baseball during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Tony Goslin of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing Jackie Robinson socks throws to the plate against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing #42 during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after being out at home plate by catcher Aramis Garcia (not pictured) of the Cincinnati Reds at home plate in the second inning of a MLB baseball game on Jackie Robinson Night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
People wearing Jackie Robinson #42 jerseys that the Dodgers gave away on the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Karin and Scott Kinsbursky of Huntington Beach wearing a #42 jersey poses for a picture in front of the Jackie Robinson statue on the 75th Anniversary of his Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Karin and Scott Kinsbursky of Huntington Beach walks to their seats on the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luke Seanez, left, takes pictures of his daughters one year-old Arya Win Seanez, left, and eight year-old Ava Brooklyn Seanez holding their #42 jersey in front of the Jackie Robinson statue on the 75th Anniversary of his Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Eleven year-old Armando Vega of Coalinga wearing a Jackie Robinson #42 jersey looks out from centerfield that the Dodgers gave away on the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the outfield wearing #42 during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers stand during the National Anthem wearing #42 during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ninety-nine-year-old Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson, poses with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during Jackie Robinson Day festivities prior to the Dodgers’ game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Friday was the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing #42 socks during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
99 year-old Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson with manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Major League debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing #42 against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning of a MLB baseball game on Jackie Robinson Night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is tagged out at home plate by catcher Aramis Garcia of the Cincinnati Reds at home plate in the second inning of a MLB baseball game on Jackie Robinson Night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing number for 42 at bat against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning of a MLB baseball game on Jackie Robinson Night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
FILE – This is a March 1956 file photo showing Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Robinson in Vero Beach, Fla. All players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear No. 42 on Thursday, April 15, 2021, to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, marking the anniversary of the date the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer made his Major League Baseball debut and broke the sport’s color barrier in 1947. (AP Photo/File)
Rachel Robinson took center stage for a moment Friday at Dodger Stadium, where she was feted in a pregame ceremony prior to the Dodgers’ game against the Cincinnati Reds. Retired players Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson presented her with a jacket courtesy of the nonprofit Players’ Alliance. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts gave her a hug.
Continuing an April 15 tradition, the Dodgers’ players gathered around the Jackie Robinson statue before the game. David Robinson, Jackie and Rachel’s son, joined Manager Dave Roberts in discussing the historical significance of April 15, 1947 beyond baseball.
