APRIL 15: JACKIE ROBINSON DAY

Seeing every player stand on the field for the National Anthem all wearing #42 may be one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.  That's what baseball and Jackie Robinson does to me.  It's unity and it's outstanding.

Remember Jackie today. Hell, remember Larry Doby today.  Understand the struggle. It was a tough road, tougher than anyone could ever imagine.

Chills. No words.

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DESTROYING THE IMAGE OF GREATNESS

I never saw Joe DiMaggio play the game, but the stories and old films give me such a feeling of Pride for the way he played and the love he had for this great game of baseball. He was one of the greatest and being an Italian American myself, the idea that guys like DiMaggio, Tony Lazzeri, Phil Rizzuto and many other Italians were part of the Yankees makes me proud.

I once wrote a piece called WHEN HONORING BASEBALL HEROES GOES REALLY WRONG   and in it, I questioned the way we as Americans treat our heroes long after they’ve passed.  I gave you 2 pretty good examples about the West Side Highway which was changed to the Joe DiMaggio Highway by Rudy Guiliani in 1999 and the Larry Doby Highway over in the back roads of Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Larry Doby Highway sign now stands on the side of a broken down road in dirty snow and weeds near a strip joint.  Sure, the idea was great I'm  paper I'm sure, but the execution and upkeep is horrendous.  We’ve forgotten these greats and  it’s sad really. Are we forgetting that Larry Doby was the second African American to play in the major leagues (1st in the American League) behind the great Jackie Robinson? Next time I'm over that way, I'll take a picture. You won't believe it.

The other day I walked into a bodega and went to grab a Snapple.  My heart sank as a saw an energy drink with Joe DiMaggio’s face on it.  It was some Joltin’ Joe Espresso drink.  I mean, is this what we’ve become?  Is this how we want our Yankees to connect to our youth that have never seen these players but just heard of them?  Disgraceful. Sure, I know, back in the day there were tobacco baseball cards, I got that. The difference was adults bought those, not kids.

But more importantly, what the hell are we doing with our heroes? Again, Larry Doby was the first African American to play in the American League. Jackie Robinson is honored when every baseball player in Major League baseball wearing #42 for 1 day.  A brilliant move.  But then Larry Doby gets a sign on a broken down street in Jersey and Joe DiMaggio gets an energy drink.  Sure, I understand the impact of Jackie, all I'm saying is, maybe a sign on the side of a road isn't the great placement, you know what I mean?

Hey look, I appreciate the honoring of the greats, but instead of just plopping a sign up and being done with it… can we think it through first?  It’s freaking pathetic.  We’re better than that.

That’s my take anyway.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE ROBINSON

We all know Jackie Robinson's amazing story. He did the impossible and broke through the color barrier. Without Jackie, there would be no Larry Doby, no Elston Howard and yes, no Derek Jeter.

Jackie's a hero, he's iconic and let's not forget that with his story of courage and race comes his story about believing in himself.  He had a goal, he knew what he was capable of and his drive and determination should be celebrated as well. He did it.

Happy Birthday Jackie. 42 will always be in baseball because of you. It may have been the smartest decision Major League Baseball has ever made.

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WHEN HONORING BASEBALL HEROES GOES REALLY WRONG

Can someone explain to me why the worst, ugliest highway, the West Side Highway in New York City is named after one of the greatest New York Yankees that has ever lived? Yes, it’s true, Joe DiMaggio Highway, also known as the West Side Highway may have a beautiful view of the mucky Hudson river and New Jersey, but the road itself is a potholed, abandoned-car death trap and I’m sorry, that’s not how Joe DiMaggio needs to be remembered. Then mayor Rudy Giuliani changed it's name in 1999, read about it HERE. I have never agreed with the idea.

Joe DiMaggio to this day still holds the longest hitting streak record in Major League history, 56 games and to me, we need to come up with a gorgeous statue and unveil it next to one of Derek Jeter in front of the new Yankee Stadium or something...again, the West Side Highway?? Or, how’s this? a gorgeous ball field in Central park for kids to play baseball, or a school or baseball academy. Something, anything is better than the West Side highway.

Similarly, in the back roads of Rutherford, New Jersey there are some real shitty roads surrounded by hotels and Meadowlands weeds and suddenly, on the side of a potholed blacktop slab of street is another sign that reads, Larry Doby Highway. OK, are you kidding? Larry Doby was not only the first African American the play baseball is the American League, he was the second African American behind Jackie Robinson to break the color barrier and this is how we honor him? A street dedication and you just happen to stumble by the sign on the side of the street? It’s disgraceful. Read about that HERE.

Look, Bleeding Yankee Blue isn’t powerful enough to have these signs removed and new landmarks replace them in a better, more memorable location like parks, or stadiums, but we can make a stink. At Target Field, there is a statue of the great Rod Carew, it's in the right place, in front of a stadium where his former team plays. It's viewed by millions who take pictures of it and honor a great ballplayer, why can't we do the same for Joe DiMaggio and Larry Doby?

(Rod Carew Statue at Target Field in Minneapolis-Getty)

Yes, it’s true, the highway dedications were good intentioned, but in this "hustle and bustle" of the world these days, the infrastructure breaks down and with it, memories are forgotten. Bottom line, our Joe DiMaggio and Larry Doby dedications are part of the infrastructure and they've broken down too. If there is a staff dedicated to preserving these landmarks, they’ve failed. If there isn’t, there needs to be.

Bottom line, Joe DiMaggio and Larry Doby deserve something better, don't they?

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