MLB can’t let the expansion lock threaten Jackie Robinson Day on his 75th debut anniversary

The lockdown imposed by MLB owners two and a half months ago, in the early moments of December 2, shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Representatives for the owners and the MLB Players Association met on Saturday, and the owners approved their latest proposal. Almost every report on the union’s response includes the word “not impressed. ”

Of course, this is not surprising, but it is not in good shape. Commissioner Rob Manfred promised during the owners’ press conference after the meeting on Thursday, “That’s a good proposition.” Apparently even the definition of the word “good” is disputed by both sides.

Players and catchers are expected to officially report later this week, but with the club doors still locked – literally, not just figuratively – and the parties diverging over a deal. potential agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, that is not going to happen.

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The spring games were scheduled to start on February 26, and that is almost certainly over. With at least four weeks’ worth of spring training possibly needed, it seems likely that a delayed Opening Day – set for March 31 – is a given. Heck, two reporters plugged in for The Athletic (Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drelich) wrote a story with the title “There’s no reason to believe the MLB season will start on time” following Saturday’s developments, otherwise it wouldn’t.

And if the lockdown does indeed happen on Opening Day, you don’t have to look much further in the calendar to see the next potential casualty: Jackie Robinson Day, on April 15.

The first Jackie Robinson Day was celebrated on April 15, 2004, a celebration that is too long to commemorate the unforgettable day in 1947 when the sport’s most courageous pioneer broke the color barrier. Major League Baseball by stepping onto the field for the first time as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson and his contributions have made a huge impact not only on the game of baseball but also on American culture, and seeing all professional league players wear uniforms. 42 is a great annual way to honor Robinson.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s MLB debut.

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, told The Sporting News in a phone interview last week. “So you hope and pray that the labor issues they’re trying so hard to work with will be resolved so that, Number 1, it won’t disrupt any games this year, but definitely the date of that particular recognition, which is monumental too.”

The 75th anniversary of Robinson’s debut is a huge deal for Kendrick and his museum, not just April 15, but the whole year. Their traveling exhibition, called Barrier Breakers, is launching soon and moving around the country over the next few years.

“The Barrier Breakers exhibit will document all the players who have broken the color barrier of their major league team,” says Kendrick. “So yes, it will focus on Jackie and his pioneering role joining the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, through Elijah ‘Pumpsie’ Green being the last to complete the integrated cycle. 12 years later with the Boston Red Sox.

“We feel that’s really important, as the world is once again reminded of the courage Jackie Robinson showed as the first, but we haven’t forgotten the other integration pioneers in the sport. baseball, who don’t always get the results they deserve. Because I can tell you, it doesn’t get easier with 1959’s Pumpsie Green in Boston than it was with 1947’s Jackie in Brooklyn. They’ve all gone through trials and tribulations as they’re trying to find their way to their major league careers. They deserve more than just a footnote in major league history, so we feel compelled to tell all their stories. “

A new addition to the Jackie Robinson collection is coming to Kansas City soon. For 20 years, a marker identifying Robinson’s birthplace was located outside Cairo, Ga. Last year, it was vandalized with multiple shots. It will be replaced and the original blurred marker will be on display in the Negro Leagues museum.

It’s a fitting addition, as the NLBM was added to the Civil Rights Trail in 2021.

“For me, that means people are accepting the fact that our story is much bigger than the baseball game. This is the story of citizenship, and this is the museum of social justice,” Kendrick said. “It is only seen through the lens of baseball. So how appropriate it would be for us to add the Civil Rights Trail, in the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the barrier of color, and we believe it was the beginning of the civil rights movement in the country. this how. “

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It would be great to celebrate on the field, not in the boardroom.

“We hope that the labor issue will be resolved, we will work it out as we look forward to working with both Major League Baseball and the Players Association on a united front to celebrate this important event,” said Kendrick. “This should not only be the focal point for April 15, but it should be the highlight for the All-Star Game and other activities that will be held this year. That’s how profound it is for the sport. ”

Manfred often talks about the urgency of finding a solution and how to end this lip lock being the most important thing because the fans are the problem.

However, the owner’s actions in their proposal do not convey the same approach. That seems especially true when reports like this surface.

MLB understands that its proposal holds no hope of creating an agreement within the next few days. Instead, the goal is to spark conversation and trigger more give and take. MLB clearly has more room for flexibility but seeks to witness greater movement from players first.

– Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2022

The truth is this: Loss of Jackie Robinson’s Foundation Day celebration would be considered collateral damage. In a labor issue with billions of dollars divided, it’s not high on the priority list for either party.

Bob Lutz, a longtime journalist, and founder and CEO of Tournament 42a non-profit baseball league in Wichita, Kan. “But since this is the 75th anniversary, aside from the damage it will do to the game, the PR and its interface will be very annoying in my opinion.”

The 42nd League started in 2013 with 16 teams and 220 children; the money raised helped rebuild three baseball fields in historic McAdam Park – the football fields there are named after Barry Sanders, and the basketball courts are named after Antonie Carr.

“We are starting our ninth year serving about 600 children, 95% of whom are from the Wichita urban area,” said Lutz. “The cost of the game can put these kids off work, and we make it affordable for families and provide equipment and uniforms. We take them out on the field and they play baseball.”

A life-sized statue of Jackie Robinson stands next to the baseball field.

“We promote Jackie and his ideals to our kids,” says Lutz. “We always talk to them about Jackie. We took our kids to the Negro Leagues Museum. He’s an inspiration and with the statue in our complex, the kids will know him and what he’s done. We also have a presentation of the images around that statue to talk more about Jackie and his contributions.”

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The 2022 season of League 42 will begin on April 18, three days after Jackie Robinson Day. Well, three days after the Jackie Robinson Day is scheduled to take place.

Sporting News has reached out to both the MLB and the MLBPA, but neither side has been reached for comment.

“I just thought it would be a bad look to not be on the field on Jackie Robinson Day, on its 75th anniversary, which speaks for itself,” Lutz said. “Maybe they’ll realize that they have to get something done here.”

Crossed fingers.