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Celebrating 42: Jackie Robinson

Apr 15, 2024 · Beacon Athletics

It was on April 15, 1997 that Major League Baseball retired the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Not just his Dodgers number, but across the entire league. It was the first number retirement of its kind. No Major League player would wear #42 again — except on April 15 when all MLB players wear 42.

This annual celebration throughout the league has become a tradition we all a look forward to. It is truly an emotional, prideful and inspirational sight to see everyone taking the field wearing #42 on that day — “Jackie Robinson Day”.

The very first Jackie Robinson Day celebration in 1997 marked the 50th anniversary of Jackie breaking the color barrier when he started at first base for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

As we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day today, we look fondly at some furniture in our office. Furniture? Well, not just “furniture”, but seats of a certain distinction. These seats (pictured) were used in the filming of the 2013 film 42: The Jackie Robinson Story, starring the late Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as the pivotal Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey.

Most of the interior stadium shots were filmed in Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Engel Stadium was set as Brooklyn’s historic Ebbets Field for the film, the home of the Dodgers from 1913 until their departure for Los Angeles following the 1957 season. Some of the game-action scenes were also filmed at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where other noteworthy games played at Forbes Field, Roosevelt Stadium, and Shibe Park were reenacted for the movie.

For those of you who have visited our offices, you may have already been aware of the special pair of stadium seats in our office lobby. As you pass, they conjure up memories of old ballparks that, in some cases, had nearly as much personality as the players who played in them. Oh, the stories they could tell…

A few years ago we put together a video tribute to some of these beloved old ballfields. The video highlights memorable ballparks and stadiums from years gone by set to the emotional vocals of Frank Sinatra in “There Used To Be a Ballpark”. That song sets just the right tone as you watch, maybe recalling your own personal memories and stories that played out in these ballparks (you can watch it on YouTube).

But certainly, no story is as memorable or as impactful as the one that would be told at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. As we honor #42 on Jackie Robinson Day, we tip our hats and take a longer glance at those seats, remembering all he accomplished as a player and, most importantly, as a person. Thank you, Jackie Robinson.