It’s been nearly 69 years since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and the city of Philadelphia is finally getting around to apologizing to Robinson for the way he was treated in the City of Brotherly Love in 1947 while making history as the first black player in the game. The city will officially apologize to Robinson’s widow, Rachel, after the city council passed a resolution on Thursday naming April 15 a day to honor Robinson. It is the anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier.
Better late than never.
Credit the current members of the council for deciding to do what’s right, but it’s a shame it took so long and so many others in their shoes in the past didn’t think it important enough to address. It would have been much more appropriate and meaningful to take this step when Robinson was still alive to receive the apology in person. He died in 1972.
Robinson endured racism and vile abuse as he made history playing as a member of the major league team in parks around the country and never lashed out at the people calling him names and mistreating him simply because of the color or his skin. Some of the worst of it came during his first trip to play the Phillies in Shibe Park in Philadelphia.
The Dodgers were refused service at the Ben Franklin Hotel because of Robinson’s presence. They moved to the Warwick Hotel where they were welcomed.
Robinson endured racism and vile abuse as he made history playing as a member of the major league team in parks around the country and never lashed out at the people calling him names and mistreating him simply because of the color or his skin. Some of the worst of it came during his first trip to play the Phillies in Shibe Park in Philadelphia.
The Dodgers were refused service at the Ben Franklin Hotel because of Robinson’s presence. They moved to the Warwick Hotel where they were welcomed.
Some members of the Phillies, including manager Ben Chapman, threatened to boycott games against the Dodgers but they ultimately agreed to play after realizing not playing would lead to forfeiting. Chapman and the Phillies had already confronted Robinson and the Dodgers in a series in New York and they were not shy about showing their racism then.
So it was no surprise that Robinson faced even worse treatment when traveling to Philadelphia, according to a story originally publish in the Philadelphia Daily News on the 50-year anniversary of Robinson breaking the barrier in 1997.
Major League Baseball honors Robinson each year on the anniversary by having all players, managers and coaches in uniform where his 42 jersey number, which has been retired across the game.
So it was no surprise that Robinson faced even worse treatment when traveling to Philadelphia, according to a story originally publish in the Philadelphia Daily News on the 50-year anniversary of Robinson breaking the barrier in 1997.
Major League Baseball honors Robinson each year on the anniversary by having all players, managers and coaches in uniform where his 42 jersey number, which has been retired across the game.
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