Cole Tucker glanced at the Pittsburgh Pirates jersey hanging at his locker with No. 42 in Dodger blue before Friday’s game and couldn’t help but feel a connection to Jackie Robinson.
As MLB celebrated the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier, the Pirates talked about the occasion as if it were a national holiday. Every player had No. 42 on their backs, a gold commemorative patch on their sleeve and some even wore socks with his image.
“I saw something where Mookie (Betts) said, ‘When you put on this No. 42 jersey, you get a little bit of Jackie in you,’” Tucker said. “It’s impossible to not feel that spirit and that energy he brought to the game.”
Pirates IF/OF Cole Tucker talks about the significance of wearing Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 (in Dodger blue) as MLB celebrates his barrier-breaking legacy. pic.twitter.com/adXa9kJy5p
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) April 15, 2022
The only way it could have been better for Tucker would have been if he was playing second base — the same position where Robinson was a seven-time All-Star – after starting there Thursday night against the Washington Nationals. Even though Tucker was in right field Friday, he was just thrilled to be in the starting lineup on Jackie Robinson Day.
“It’s incredible, man. To be a major league baseball player and to be Black, you feel like you’re embodying Jackie Robinson’s life,” Tucker said. “For us to all be together and to this today wearing No. 42, it’s a storybook thing. It’s really special. We don’t take the seriousness of this lightly but we do love to honor him and make it a cool day and make it a baseball holiday. I’m excited to go out and play with my hair on fire like he would.”
Tucker, who is biracial, is one of seven Black players on the Pirates’ 40-man roster. With outfielders Anthony Alford and Greg Allen are in Florida recovering from injuries and Canaan Smith-Njigba playing for Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates had Tucker, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and relievers Aaron Fletcher and Duane Underwood Jr. at Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes wearing these spikes on #JackieRobinsonDay pic.twitter.com/xhBUwaM4UU
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) April 15, 2022
“It’s like a silent understanding we all have. Everyone’s played on teams where you’re the only Black player, so when there’s four or five it’s really cool. It’s cool to see the growth of the game in our community and, hopefully, the more of us that get on TV and do this the more kids will start to play the game again and get the opportunity to play in college and pro ball. It’s all about passing on Jackie’s legacy.
“He did so much. His legacy is going to last forever. We still have a long ways to go in the game to try to get the things in action that he wanted to do but we’re getting there. Today is a cool day to stop, look around and celebrate.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton talks about the impact of MLB celebrating Jackie Robinson Day. pic.twitter.com/tGuWrsfIhR
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) April 15, 2022
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was the hitting coach for Tampa Bay when Don Zimmer was a special advisor for the Rays, and loved to hear Zimmer tell stories about playing with Robinson when both were with the Dodgers in the mid-1950s.
“To be able to sit in the room and listen to (Zimmer), it’s not coming out of a book. It’s not coming out of anything. It’s talking to a person who was in the dugout with him. In the clubhouse with him. On the trains with him,” Shelton said. “That’s impactful. And that time with Zim was really impactful to me with how important Jackie is to our game.”
While wearing an MLB-issued “Breaking Barriers” shirt, Shelton talked about how the Pirates were hoping to make an impact by auctioning off the uniforms and commemorative clothing they wear Friday on Pirates.com to raise money for charities.
“I think being able to wear 42 today is special,” Shelton said. “It’s special not only for what it on means on the field, I think for the Jackie Robinson scholarship and the foundation and the amount of money they raise. … We talk about days that should be holidays. I think you guys know that I feel that way about Opening Day, 42 day should be. 21 day also should be. But 42 day is a special day.”
