Tricia L. Naldony reports in this morning's Daily News that the Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution apologizing to Jackie Robinson for the treatment he received during his rookie season in 1947 when the Brooklyn Dodgers visited Philadelphia.
Ronsinson was denied a room at the hotel the team stayed but most bruising was the verbal assault from Phillies manager Ben Chapman. This episode is documented in the movie 42 and is one of the harder scenes in the film to watch. The resolution will be presented to Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson who at 93 was recently in attendance at the exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team in Havana.
On Thursday, Philadelphia City Council apologized.
"Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia," reads the resolution unanimously passed Thursday, "that City Council hereby recognize, honor and celebrate April 15, 2016 as a day honoring the lifetime achievements and lasting influence of Jackie Robinson, and apologizing for the racism he faced as a player while visiting Philadelphia."
Baseball and the Phillies would move on from horrible incidents like this. Our own Matt Albertson covered such topics in his wonderful Race in Baseball series back in February. In 2016, much progress has been made but there are still hurdles to clear when it comes to tolerance. It was good of the City Council to apologize to one of the game's greatest and his family in this fashion.
