The beauty of sports is that it doesn’t discriminate. Everyone is equally welcome to showcase their talent. But it’s a different matter depending on what era one is playing in. In baseball, Jackie Robinson is considered one of the greatest players to ever grace Major League Baseball. The late first baseman is famous for not just his skills, but also for breaking the color barrier on April 15, 1923. And to honor his legacy, the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on that date each year.
From everyone wearing his jersey number 42 to events dedicated to the player’s legacy, everyone celebrates in one way or another. And to keep that very legacy alive, the Players Alliance is combating the race issue in its own way. Recently, the organization held an event honoring black players from all over the sports world.
MLB greats CC Sabathia and Gary Sheffield come together for a huge celebration
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Sabathia, who acts as the TPA Board’s Vice Chair, attended Flight Club weekend with a number of other sports celebrities. The purpose of the Flight Club is to bring together former players to celebrate their service to their sport. The organization’s official Instagram page shared a bunch of pictures that included sports greats. Sheffield and Sabathia, both former Yankees, posed with boxing legend Mike Tyson as well as one of the TPA founders, Edwin Jackson.
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The post’s caption read, “Our celebration of #JackieRobinson isn’t over! Scenes from FLIGHT Club™ Weekend, an event for former players that celebrates service after retirement in honor of Jackie Robinson.”
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Other names at the event included Brandon Watson, Dexter Fowler, and Curtis Granderson, who is also on the board.
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What does the Player’s Alliance aim to do?
The focus of this organization is to promote equality in diversity in the sport of baseball. Their efforts are ongoing to increase access and opportunities for black communities in the game.
Earlier this month, the TPA Board also held an event to host equipment donations in alliance with the 2022 World Series champions Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
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“When people see teams actually serving together and players sacrificing their World Series ring for a cause they believe in, it makes Jackie’s legacy real to today’s audience,” Sabathia commented via PR Newswire. “They can clearly see that the hearts of today’s players are in lockstep with the mission of The Players Alliance,” he said at the event.
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