The Brushback -- Players Honor Jackie Robinson Day By Donning Blackface

LOS ANGELES--On April 15th, Major League Baseball paused to honor the one player that changed everything--Jackie Robinson. The first African-American to play in the majors, he broke more than the color barrier on that spring day in 1947. He broke down social barriers, and he broke the backs of those who sought to foster intolerance and hate in the game of baseball. The league did its part to keep that memory alive by designating every 15th of April “Jackie Robinson day”. The players did their part, too, by donning blackface as a way to show their solidarity with the great civil rights pioneer.

“It’s just our way of paying tribute to the guy,” said Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris. “Even though we’re white, we still feel like Jackie had a huge effect on our lives. Donning this black shoe polish is more than just an empty gesture. It’s a symbolic way for us to express our sympathy for Jackie and experience what it’s like to be a black person playing baseball. I'm sure if Jackie were here today, he would be beaming with pride.”

The stirring tribute was seen in every baseball stadium in the nation. If there was ever a doubt about Robinson’s influence on the game, Thursday’s display put it to rest.

“It’s just a beautiful moment,” said an emotional Eric Chavez, A’s shortstop. “If it wasn’t for Jackie Robinson, we might not be here today. Ok, well, I’d be here--but some other guys wouldn’t. The idea for putting shoe polish on our face was a stroke of genius. Today, we’re all African-Americans.”

The idea for the unorthodox tribute was hatched by Player’s Union head Donald Fehr. Fehr, who said he wanted to acknowledge Robinson’s contributions to the game, suggested the players do something that would “put themselves in Robinson’s shoes.”

“I really wanted the players to show that they identified with Robinson,” said Fehr. “Even though we don’t have many African-American players in the league right now, the guys are still indebted to the pioneers who helped shape the game that we know today. Another reason is that it’s part of the collective bargaining agreement to participate in these kinds of events. Ok, that’s the only reason.”

Whatever the reasons, the gesture was greeted with enthusiasm by everyone who witnessed it. Even the fans got into the act, by simulating the atmosphere of a major league ballpark circa 1947.

“A lot of the fans had strong reactions to our blackface,” said Detroit’s Bobby Higginson. “It was great. Everyone was in the spirit. People were actually screaming racial epithets at me to help me reflect on the pain that Jackie had to endure when he was playing. Some people even threw beer bottles at me.”

Philadelphia first baseman Jim Thome said the hometown fans were excited about the tribute, but may have gotten a little carried away.

“They were calling me the n-word like crazy,” said Thome. “After a while, it started to get to me. Even though I’m white, I knew what it felt like to be discriminated against because of the color of the shoe polish on my face. I thank the fans for enlightening me like that, although I could’ve done without the death threats.”

One person who was not enamored with the player’s unique gesture was Jackie’s widow, Rachel Robinson. She was incensed upon witnessing the stunt and immediately demanded the players remove the shoe polish. They declined, and she grew even angrier.

“What are you people thinking?” she yelled. “This is the most insensitive and offensive display I have ever seen--and I’m from the south! You honor my late husband by smearing shoe polish on your face and pretending to be black? This proves what I’ve been saying for years--white people are fucked.”

Ms. Robinson has appealed to the Commissioner’s office to suspend the players involved in the “racist” stunt, but Selig declined, and accused her of being a racist herself. Selig will seek to bar Ms. Robinson from all future League-sponsored events.

“It shocks me that the wife of such a man could be so ignorant when it comes to racial issues,” said Selig, in a statement released to the press this morning. “We donned the blackface as a tribute to her husband. Now she’s accusing us of being racist, which is disrespectful to the entire day. Her husband would never have said something like that. I think if she wants to start throwing accusations around, she should start by looking in the mirror.”

The league’s current group of African-American players has had a mixed response to the tribute. Some felt it was an honest attempt by the players to pay respect to Robinson, some felt it was slightly misguided, and some felt it was downright racist.

Garret Anderson, of the Anaheim Angels, was shocked when he first caught a glimpse of his black-faced teammates, but fell short of criticizing them.

“When I first saw it, I wanted to throw up,” said Anderson. “Donning blackface is something that went out with minstrel shows and the KKK. I thought of saying something, but I held my tongue because I know the guys had good intentions. They truly admire Robinson, and this was just their way of honoring him. I understand how Rachel feels, but she needs to understand that these guys are anything but bigoted. They’re not racists. They’re just idiots.”