An Honor or a Curse - The Number 42 in Japan
In American baseball the number 42 is revered and April 15th is a historic day because of one man, Jackie Robinson - he wore number 42 on that date back in 1947 when he was the first man of color to play for a Major League Baseball team in the United States. 2008 marks the 61st anniversary of that historic day and more than 330 players, managers and coaches in the United States– including nine entire teams — wore Jackie Robinson’s # 42 to celebrate the Hall of Famer’s accomplishments.
Number 42 was retired in 1997 by Major League Baseball in honor of what the man wearing the number went through and what his legacy still represents to this day. Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera is the only player remaining from then who still wears Number 42.
Thousands of miles away and in a different country, across a vast ocean, the number 42 is not treated with the same respect. In fact it is considered an unlucky, if not disastrous, number. In Japanese, 4 (shi) and 2 (ni) are together pronounced like “going to death” (死に) (wikipedia).
Given that the number 42 is considered bad luck one would think that it would not be used in Japanese baseball. But in 2008 there are 10 players on Japanese major league teams that all wear this unlucky number. Here is the complete list:
- Brian Sweeney of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
- Craig Brazzell of the Saitama Seibu Lions
- Julio Zuleta of the Chiba Lotte Marines
- Alex Cabrera of the Orix Buffaloes
- Rafael Cruz of the Chunichi Dragons
- T. Shimoyanagi of the Hanshin Tigers
- Kida Masao of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
- Marc Kroon of the Yomiuri Giants
- Masayuki Hasegawa of the Hiroshima Carp
- Travis Hughes of the Yokohama Baystars
Only the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks and the Rakuten Golden Eagles do not have the number 42 assigned to a player listed on their respective websites.
It is uncertain how many of these men benefited from the struggles of Jackie Robinson but some of them may not have been permitted to play Major League Baseball in the Unites States had it not been for his perseverance.
Nippon Professional Baseball has unknowingly, or due to a cultural superstition, allowed these men to wear a number that is revered in the United States and honors a man whose struggles allow them to don a uniform each day and take the field as professional baseball players.
on 16 April, 2008 on 10:29 pm
I never knew that about the number 42.. Of course I’m Canadian and don’t really watch baseball…
on 17 April, 2008 on 12:42 am
Hadn’t heard about this before, but it’s interesting. A lot of professional athletes and sports team managers in the U.S. are pretty superstitious, though. Some even where the same socks every year in the playoffs, without even washing them.
on 17 April, 2008 on 8:51 am
It is a great tribute that Jackie Robinson number has been worn by Major League Teams. But let’s face it in the days of Big Contracts, I could guarantee you that half of the major league players are so caught up on themselves that they probably don’t understand or Know who Jackie Robinson is, and the hardships he and others endured to give the Freedom and Liberties to all the Major League Baseball Players today!
They should have a written Test on the History of Baseball before they sign any contract!
on 17 April, 2008 on 9:28 am
Mike - I’m Canadian too! You can still watch baseball in Canada - hockey isn’t the only sport, eh?
Billy - Superstitions abound in baseball, I just hope this post doesn’t make all of these guys request a new number! I could be banned from all games in Japan for causing such trouble…
pdmarketing - you are right about the big contracts but I think you underestimate the depth of some of the players when you assume that none of them have respect for the game and are just looking for a paycheck.
on 17 April, 2008 on 12:35 pm
Just don’t wear your number 42 jersey and you won’t be banned.
And, I meant ‘wear’, not ‘where’ in my previous post.
Wow, lots of typos from me lately.