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Tomorrow Major League Baseball will honor the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Selective players around the league will wear the retired No. 42 as a tribute, including Boston's David Ortiz, Coco Crisp and third-base coach DeMarlo Hale.

Crisp, Alex Cora and Terry Francona spoke about Robinson legacy and what he means, not only for baseball, but to society.

"We’re trying to be respectful of everybody," said Francona. "I get a little torn because I want to make sure we're respectful and the players are respectful. I don't want it to get lost in all the celebration of Jackie Robinson, which he deserves. It’s somewhat of an embarrassment day also. It’s a little bit of a shame that we have to have this day because 60 years ago the color of somebody skin, they weren't treated the same. To me, that’s humiliating and I hope that message doesn’t get lost either.”

Tito said he can't even imagine what it must have been like for Robinson and other African-American atheltes 60 years ago.

" I can't (imagine) and I'm thankful for my parents," said Francona. “Until I got out of the house did I realize that wasn’t really how the world worked completely. I don’t ever remember thinking twice, because it wasn’t part of my growing up. Then you get out in the real world and you see how it is different, so I’m grateful for my parents I was raised that way."

In tomorrow's Sunday Journal we'll have a centerpiece focusing on Jackie Robinson.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 2:02 PM | Permalink