Jackie Robinson remembered from Yankee Stadium to Dodger Stadium

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It’s April 15 and at every MLB park, No. 42 will be everywhere.

Jackie Robinson’s legacy is again being remembered on the 63rd anniversary of his breaking the color barrier.

For the second consecutive year, Commissioner Bud Selig invited all uniformed personnel to wear the late Hall of Famer’s number, which was retired throughout baseball on the 50th anniversary of Robinson taking the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. (The Yankees’ great closer Mariano Rivera, who has always worn 42, was grandfathered in by Selig).

‘April 15, 1947, is a day that resonates with history throughout Major League Baseball,’ Selig said. ‘Major League Baseball will never forget the contributions that Jackie made both on and off the field.’

This year’s main celebration will be at Yankee Stadium and Jackie’s widow, Rachel Robinson, and his daughter, Sharon, will be in attendance.

At Dodger Stadium, former Dodgers Tommy Davis, ‘Sweet’ Lou Johnson, Tommy Lasorda and Frank Robinson will be on hand, as will Lakers Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a supporter of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Dodgers Hall of Famer Don Newcombe will throw out a ceremonial first pitch to Matt Kemp.

Robinson’s stats shouldn’t be forgotten either. In 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he finished with a .311 batting average and an OPS (on base plus slugging) percentage of .883 and 734 RBIs.

But maybe the most impressive stat? In 4,877 at bats, he struck out only 291 times.

-- Debbie Goffa