just for the sake of argument?

Question

why do so many Baseball teams feel obliged to retire the number "42" of Jackie Robinson but not the number "3" of Babe Ruth?

Answer 1

I see what you're saying. Retiring a number in baseball should be based on on-the-field play and not politics. For once, why can't we just let the game be a game and leave all the other stuff out. In terms of name recognition, Babe Ruth is who everyone associates with baseball. Bonds is getting close, but no one else has ever had the record for most homeruns in a season as well as career. He was not just another white guy playing ball.

Answer 2

The number 42 was ordered by MLB to be retired by all teams on April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut.

At the time, anyone wearing the number was allowed to keep it for the rest of their career, in a grandfather clause. Two player, Mo Vaughn and Mariano Rivera, chose to do so, and only Rivera is still active. Both had always requested the number as their own tributes to Robinson.

No such order has been given regarding Babe Ruth.

Robinson was a pioneer and Ruth was not.

Answer 3

Wow. The answer on top of mine is just sad. Jackie Robinson had to endure so much being the first African American play in the league. He deserved having his number retired for many different reasons. It helped and encouraged more African American to join the league. Also, baseball was extremely popular back then and this signified something very important.

Answer 4

As many have already said, the retiring of 42 isn't a team by team decision. It's league-wide. When asking why his number was retired, it's important to realize that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947, well before many key civil rights events had taken place. For example, 7 years later was the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that ruled school segregation to be unconstituional. His breaking of the color barrier was a huge baseball moment, but was so much bigger than just baseball. It was an extremely important moment in American history.

Answer 5

In 1997 on April 15, the 50th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson entering MLB, baseball commissioner BUD SELIG retired the number FOR ALL TEAMS. Therefore, it was not the teams, but Baseball Itself who retired the numbers

Answer 6

When I hear people say Robinson broke the color barrier all I hear is Blah!Blah!Blah!Ya know what is amazing?Blacks would of eventually been in the game no matter what,he was just the first.And if I recall,a year later alot more teams took on black players.Why dont we talk about what the most amazing thing was he did.He fought for our country even though his country did not fight for him.We should idolize all ballplayers who did these things during the war.And besides.Jackie Robinson was only black on the outside.All the ***** players hated him cause they thought of him as a Uncle Tom and because he got to go to the majors before Satchel or the greatest ever,Josh Gibson.

Answer 7

all of major league baseball retired number 42. He forever changed the sport by breaking the color barrier.

Answer 8

Robinson's #42 was retired league-wide by mandate of Major League Baseball.

In terms of having a profound, lasting, and positive effect on the game, Robinson stands alone at the top of a short list.

Answer 9

Babe Ruth was just another white guy but Jackie broke the barrier and made it possible for people to believe that anything could be achieved

Answer 10

Because, though Babe Ruth was an amazing player, Jackie Robinson was a symbol for an entire race. He was the first african-american major league player...and he was AMAZING.