The Los Angeles Dodgers were supposed to honor former Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson this past April 15th for the anniversary of Robinson’s breaking the color bearer in 1947 the tribute never took place because of the Coronavirus shutdown. Here in this photo is Robinson with former Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman in 1947. Chapman was Robinson said the worst racist offender in baseball he ever encountered. Chapman only posed for this photo because the New York press wrote all the racist things that Chapman said and Chapman relented under pressure to show he could be in Robinson’s company for the photo   (lelands.com file photo)

2020 Poetic Justice: Dodgers on a Record Pace

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed into this weekend with a 24-9 record, a .772 winning percentage. In a 60-game abbreviated season, this record is equivalent of 118 win game pace during a normal 162 game campaign.

Poetic Justice in this 2020 season that Jackie Robinson’s team, the first black man to play in the Major Leagues is making history. Granted, here in the Bay Area the Dodgers are despised, especially by Giants fans, who for years have considered the two best things for the Giants are, 1-To win the World Series and 2-For the Dodgers not to win the World Series. But that is part of the second most intense baseball rivalry. Yankees vs. Red Sox, obviously the oldest and fiercest, then the Giants vs. Dodgers and Cardinals vs. Cubs.

On April 15, 1997, in a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, New York, Commissioner Bud Selig declared that No. 42 (Jackie Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers) would be permanently retired by all 30 major league teams.

Panamanian-born Mariano Rivera was the last player to wear No. 42 when he began his career until he retired in 2013, and was the last player to wear the historic baseball number. Mariano, a star on and off the field, a solid Christian man that is idolized in Panamá, who was also the first ever player unanimously inducted into Cooperstown.

Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the season beginning months later than the scheduled late March Opening Day, Jackie Robinson Day that was to be celebrated on April 15, the day he broke the color barrier in 1947 with the Dodgers, could not take place as planned by all teams in major league baseball.

There are two names in the history of baseball that are in our record books, because of the way they transformed the game we all love. Babe Ruth, because at that time in history ‘he was baseball’. Because of hitting very long home runs in the 1920’s a New York newspaper named his home runs “Ruthian” a word that is still even used today. Then there is Jackie Robinson a trailblazer and great example to black Americans and all Americans of honesty, perseverance and dedication to his family, his country and his sport.

The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers are making news because during this “season” they are on a pace that would be equal to 118 wins during a 162 game season and because the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson are forever united by history, the Jackie Robinson name is today bigger than ever.

In 2017 the LA Dodgers dedicated an 800 pound, eight-foot bronze statue of Jackie Robinson – an image of Robinson stealing home during his rookie season. This statue if for everybody to see at the left field reserve plaza at Dodger Stadium (aka Chávez Ravine). If you ever visit Dodger Stadium, I recommend you take a look. The Dodger franchise is not one that builds many statues for players, for this one is special. Why? because it is not about statistics, but of historical and human values.

Jackie Robinson name is more important today that it was in 1947. I think it is poetic justice that because of the Dodgers great ‘on the field record’, his name has risen to the forefront of discussion in this country. At the end, we were and are, all born the same. We all bleed the same color. Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on flaghship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com