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April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DathywlUwAEz1DE.jpg)
Remembering Jackie Robinson Day
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://cdn.uni-watch.com/app/uploads/2018/04/jrr-patch-2018.jpeg)
Remembering Jackie Robinson Day
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://securea.mlb.com/assets/images/9/2/0/118543920/cuts/girffey42_1280_zhc371g7_bv7j8wum.jpg)
No. 42 jersey tribute began in 2007 with Griffey
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![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://i.redd.it/pz7x1czvzfs41.jpg)
Before everyone wore 42 for Jackie Robinson, Ken Griffey, Jr. did it in 1997 and it was immortalized on a trading card : r/baseball
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://cdn.britannica.com/85/3785-050-2C088165/Jackie-Robinson-1946.jpg?w=300&h=169&c=crop)
Jackie Robinson, Biography, Statistics, Number, Facts, & Legacy
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ultimatepopculture/images/3/3e/Seattle_Mariners_Insignia.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20191105163549)
Seattle Mariners, Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/42_Brendan_Ryan%2C_42_Jesus_Montero_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-42_Brendan_Ryan%2C_42_Jesus_Montero_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Jackie Robinson Day - Wikipedia
Ken Griffey Jr. had Jackie Robinson Day idea
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile/s3/2021-08/griffey-42_xncoq723syco1mn9p4jn81m42.jpg?itok=9jPHDsPx)
The many uniforms of Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cfOZAbXC7ek/maxresdefault.jpg)
Griffey family dinner lessons led to enduring way to honor Jackie Robinson
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/227451-138-58C0D285/who-was-Jackie-Robinson.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Jackie Robinson, Biography, Statistics, Number, Facts, & Legacy
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://external-preview.redd.it/its-all-coming-together-mariners-j-p-crawford-emerging-as-a-v0-bWXsx0itPrCxVlcrS0yXP1hf8V5vVIfONUbqF1lHnmE.jpg?auto=webp&s=b651f689e6f4a10fe792ae0baffb5ec7215f668a)
Before everyone wore 42 for Jackie Robinson, Ken Griffey, Jr. did it in 1997 and it was immortalized on a trading card : r/baseball
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://cdn.britannica.com/93/80393-050-192DA350/Bill-Clinton-Bud-Selig-memory-baseball-breaking-April-15-1997.jpg)
Jackie Robinson, Biography, Statistics, Number, Facts, & Legacy
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington%2C_D.C._Former_National_Baseball_League_player%2C_Jackie_Robinson_with_his_son.%2C_08_28_1963.gif/170px-Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington%2C_D.C._Former_National_Baseball_League_player%2C_Jackie_Robinson_with_his_son.%2C_08_28_1963.gif)
Jackie Robinson Day - Wikipedia
![April 15, 1997: Ken Griffey Jr. wears number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on 50th anniversary – Society for American Baseball Research](https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/Aaron.AroundtheBases%20%28website%29.jpg)
The Black Baseball Initiative