When MLB retired Jackie Robinson’s number league-wide on April 15, 1997, not everybody connected No. 42 with Robinson’s legacy.
“A lot of players didn’t know who No. 42 was,” said Bob Watson, the former Astros general manager and player who was the GM of the Yankees in ’97. “A lot. I’m not going to tell you some of the names — you would be really shocked — but a lot of the players didn’t know who 42 was. I thought it was, to retire his number, really is a significant thing for baseball, the industry, and also for the fans.