On Jackie Robinson Day

Every year on April 15th, two things occur. The dreaded tax day, and Jackie Robinson Day. Robinson made his debut on April 15, 1947. The Hall of Famer hit .311 over his career and in 1997, Major League Baseball honored his legacy by retiring his number 42 throughout the league, (although a Grandfather Clause was instituted for those who already wore the number, such as Mariano Rivera). As part of the festivities, every player wears Robinson's number 42 for the day, leading to much confusion as to who's who on opposing teams. Many baseball fans, myself included, do not neccesarily like this practice. As a longtime Yankees fan, I learned very early on that the Yankees did not, and still do not, wear their names on the backs of their jerseys, (in fact, I viewed every other team as the oddballs as a child!) By 1999, I had learned the most famous and most popular players' numbers: O'Neill (21), Bernie Williams (51), Jeter (2), Brosius (18), Tino (24), Pettitte (46), and Mo (42), amoung others. However, each year since 2004, every player has opted to wear Jackie Robinson's #42 on April 15 as an honor to one of the greatest baseball players of all time. I understand that he is a respected baseball player, a Hall of Famer in all respects, and a hero and inspiration to many baseball players playing today. However, to have every player wear his number is unneccesary.

Can you tell who's who?