Dodgers offer 42-gun salute to Robinson

By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Sunday, April 15, 2007 10:13 PM PDT ∞

Rachel Robinson, center, widow of Jackie Robinson, walks past his jersey with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on their way to the field to watch a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in Los Angeles. Major League Baseball paid tribute to the late Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947 when he played with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Associated Press
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LOS ANGELES ---- Padres center fielder Mike Cameron donned the No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. So did everyone in a Dodgers uniform. Cameron also chopped his pants just below the knees ---- like Robinson ---- to show off his stirrups.

And that was just the beginning of an evening when Major League Baseball pulled out all the stops in honor of the 60th anniversary of the day Robinson integrated baseball.

"As far as the ceremony goes, it was definitely an unforgettable day," said Cameron, who sat on the field for most of the pregame festivities. "There was a lot of history in the ballpark today. I was glad to be a part of it."

The ceremony lasted about 40 minutes. It began with video clips of Hank Aaron, Joe Morgan and Spike Lee offering viewpoints on Robinson's importance. It continued with dozens of major leaguers, Cameron among them, thanking Robinson for what he went through.

Actors Courtney B. Vance and Marlon Wayans then participated in an on-field tribute followed by a performance of "Oh Happy Day" by a choir from the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who called seven of Robinson's seasons while he was with the Brooklyn Dodgers, offered several sentiments before introducing commissioner Bud Selig and Robinson's wife, Rachel, who received a rousing ovation from the sellout crowd. Jackie Robinson was later honored with the Historic Achievement Award by Selig.

"You not only made baseball better, more importantly you made society better," Selig said.

Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls") sang the national anthem before baseball's first black manager, Frank Robinson, and home run king Hank Aaron each threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Baseball honored Jackie Robinson with ceremonies at 10 of 15 parks on Sunday. The other five games were postponed because of weather.

Rave review for Laforest

Pitcher Jake Peavy gave catcher Pete Laforest a thumbs-up for the way the two worked together on Saturday night. Manager Bud Black backed the review on Sunday.

Black thought Peavy and Laforest managed to stay in sync because they were familiar with each other from working together in spring training.

"I thought Pete did a very good job with Jake," Black said. "There was a lot of dialogue in between innings. They didn't seem to miss a beat. They were very in tune with each other."

Laforest also came through at the plate. He walked and scored in the first inning against Jason Schmidt and later had an RBI single off left-hander Mark Hendrickson to make it 7-0.

"He had a good at-bat against Schmidt and then had that knock in the hole," Black said.

Laforest is expected to start tonight against the Chicago Cubs.

Et cetera

Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield brought a bus of 50 guests from the Jackie Robinson YMCA in San Diego for Sunday's game. ... Hall of Fame SS Ernie Banks was also introduced during the game.