Originally published at: Major League Baseball Is Sanitizing Jackie Robinson’s Radical Legacy - TPM – Talking Points Memo
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. Major League Baseball (MLB) likes to congratulate itself for being a civil rights trailblazer. Jackie Robinson Day celebrations are held at every ballpark on April 15, the date Robinson first played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Since 2009, all players, managers, coaches, and…
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I’m sure Dr. Dreier is a fine scholar. But he should welcome Jackie Robinson Day every year. Ms. Robinson attends and the players wear “42” for the most part. I hate to admit it but I saw Jackie play quite often and since I’m only a few years older than Prof. Dreier he may have as well. The players can read up on him as well and know that they stand on the shoulders of this (giant) he would hate that.
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Fun fact: At the 1964 Republican convention Robinson was a Rockefeller supporter. Apparently he was harassed and shoved by some of the retrograde element of Goldwater supporters. He was so shaken by the incident that he compared the atmosphere in the hall to being a Jew in Nazi Germany.
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A pox on the Dodgers.
The franchise’s lackluster fan base was essentially single-handedly doubled during the '70s by a Mexican named Fernando Valenzuela. And though the Fernandomania has waned, Latinos still make up 40% of its most loyal fan base.
That the Dodgers – with the notable exception of Enrique “Kike” Hernandez, a class act on and off the field – would remain silent about the ICE Gestapo was unforgivable enough. But visiting the White(s Only) House to celebrate their 2024 World Series victory was truly despicable, a giant middle finger to its fan base.
Whether they will issue its Latino fans the ultimate FU to celebrate last year’s victory remains to be seen, but I won’t be surprised.
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Back in 2015 there was a report that the DOD had paid MLB for promotions at games and “72 of 122 contracts totaling $6.8 million contained some form of paid patriotism.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if part of the Big Beautiful Bill money has DHS buying promotions from MLB, too. Murica’s pastime!
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The Dodgers kept ICE from keeping their Latino fans out of the ballpark last year. $ or not they did it. When the Catholic Church does it I guess I’ll believe it.
The Dodgers ran ICE off because it was bad for business, not because they gave a shit about their fans.