Why does he get to wear #42 when the league retired that number throughout baseball. It just shows that the Yankees have no respect...Unless there is a valid reason someone can give me why he wears #42.
2007-04-21 04:28:13 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
He is allowed to keep wearing it even though the league retired that number.
The reason: He was wearing that number when the leagure retired that number, therefore, anyone that is wearing a number while it is retired has the right to wear that number as long as they want, which is usually till the end of their career which given the way mariano is pitching, this could very well be the end.
If I were him, I would have given up the number with respect to Jackie Robinson. Perhaps, he feels that wearing that number with pride will also show his respect to J.R.
No one really knows Mariano's reasoning, however he does have the right to continue wearing that number.
2007-04-21 04:34:24 · answer #1 · answered by the_infielder44 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Rivera wore #42 prior to the retirement as a personal tribute to Robinson. When they retired the number, any players who were wearing it were allowed to continue doing so - Rivera is the last of those players who were grandfathered in.
2007-04-21 11:46:06 · answer #2 · answered by JerH1 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK, but this is the last time, at least this season, that I explain this to anyone. It's been asked about a dozen times just this week.
ON April 15, 1997, MLB retired Jackie Robinson's number 42. But this had a grandfather clause to it. Any player who was then wearing 42 was allowed to continue to do so for the remainder of his career. Note that this was not for the remainder of his contract, but for his career. If he went to another team, he could still wear 42.
There was a handful of players at that time who wore the number. All but two of them, Mo Vaughn and Mariano Rivera, decided to change their number at that time. Both Vaughn and Rivera had deliberately and throughout their respective careers, requested 42 as their own way to honour Robinson. Vaughn retired a few years ago, leaving Rivera as the only player still allowed to wear the number.
Mariano Rivera chose to request that number at every level of professional baseball because he feels that Robinson and Branch Rickey opened professional baseball not just to black players but to international players as well. By continuing to wear 42, as is his right under that grandfather clause, Rivera is honouring and thanking the man who not only made his career possible, but changed the face of baseball itself. If you don't believe that, then think about MLB today, but without Latino and Asian players.
2007-04-21 16:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
he wears it because he already was wearing it when it was retired, so he was grandfathered in. the respectful thing to do would have been to give it up, but he didn't. I suppose that the Yankees will eventually have it retired for both Jackie Robinson and him.
2007-04-21 12:06:17 · answer #4 · answered by crime.dog738 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
they retired the number after he chose to wear the number... the leuge said that if you are a player and are currently wearing the number 42 ten years ago then you can continue wearing it until you are done playing for the team.
2007-04-21 13:45:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do your research before asking such a ridiculous question. He's not "above" anyone, he was grandfathered in, and he wears it out of respect for Robinson.
Seriously, a one-minute Google search could have saved you from having to waste your time.
2007-04-21 11:46:57 · answer #6 · answered by Craig S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you knew anything about baseball you wouldn't be asking such a ridiculous question. Typical Yankee hater pointing fingers before doing your home work. Nothing like showcasing your ignorance!!
2007-04-23 12:20:00 · answer #7 · answered by Jen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wore the number before it was retired and can wear it till he does. Also, he is a great closer having a bad year.
Chow!!
2007-04-21 12:40:20 · answer #8 · answered by No one 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Were u born yesterday? He wore it in a tribute 2 Robinson be4 it was retired, u idiot. The best closer in MLB history should be able 2 do what he wants anyway, right.
2007-04-21 15:14:35 · answer #9 · answered by yankeejet1410 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
HE IS ALLOWED TO WEAR THE NUMBER SINCE HE HAD IT BEFORE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RETIRED THE NUMBER. YOUR COMMENTS SHOW YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL. THE YANKEES RECENTLY ADDED A PLAQUE TO MONUMENT PARK IN HIS HONOR. SO THERE.
2007-04-21 12:01:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋