SAN FRANCISCO -- Mike Cameron has special plans for how he will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15.

The Padres' center fielder will join other black major-league players in wearing Robinson's No. 42 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.

Cameron and other players were invited to wear the number, retired by Major League Baseball in 1997, after commissioner Bud Selig granted permission to Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. on Wednesday.

However, Cameron will be on a bigger stage. The Padres will be in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers at 5:05 p.m. in a nationally televised ESPN game, during which baseball plans to celebrate Robinson.

That setting makes the 34-year-old Cameron want to pull out all the stops.

"I'm even going to chop my pants off and make them big and baggy," Cameron said. "I was watching some old tapes to see what I could do, maybe even wear my hat in my back pocket."

Cameron said he's excited for another opportunity to wear Robinson's number. He previously wore No. 42 with the New York Mets in 2004 and likes that he can pay homage to not only Robinson, but baseball history.

Cameron said he thinks about Robinson "every time I get a chance to play in his jersey. This guy sacrificed so much and laid the groundwork, opened up so many doors for me to get a chance to play, an opportunity to showcase my talent. I have the utmost respect for the history of the game."

That explains why Cameron is concerned about the shrinking number of African-American players in baseball. He said one reason he believes fewer and fewer blacks are playing is a lack of opportunity in inner cities. He's encouraged by baseball's decision to try to rejuvenate the sport through baseball academies, but he would like to take it a step further and bring children with him to games so they can grasp the concept of being a player.

"Especially now at a time where brothers are extinct in the game," Cameron said. "I don't know if the game is going in a different direction. Little League kids don't want to play. But when you grow up in the inner city and they don't have nowhere to play, it makes it a lot tougher. …

"I'm going to actually bring kids to the game so they get a chance to see what it's truly like. I think a lot of kids don't really get a chance to touch and see what goes on all the time."

Cameron said he's doing his part to help "revive the game" he loves. But he offers young players a warning.

"I always make sure I tell every kid, (if) you want to play baseball, you can't just say I want to play baseball," Cameron said. "There has to be a special passion for this game. You can't instill passion in anybody."

Et cetera

According to Elias Sports Bureau, RHP Jake Peavy became the first Padres pitcher since Clay Kirby in 1972 and 1973 to win back-to-back starts on Opening Day. Peavy pitched in a 6-1 win over the Giants last year in San Diego.