Steve Webb
Never let it be said that David Price doesn’t put his money where his mouth is. Already, the Dodgers hurler has donated money to Dodgers minor leaguers in need during the 2020 pandemic season. Then, on Opening Day, he announced during the World Series ring ceremony that he would be auctioning his ring and donating the proceeds to the Players’ Alliance, a non-profit ad-hoc group of players and former players dedicated to making the game more accessible to people of color. Now, Price is joining with nearly 100 other big leaguers in donating their salaries on Jackie Robinson Day also to the same organization.
In a statement issued by the Players Alliance, Price and others laid down a marker:
“David Price, Jason Heyward, and Jackie Bradley Jr. are among more than 100 MLB players (and counting) of all races and backgrounds who have pledged to donate either their full or partial gameday salary to The Players Alliance on Jackie Robinson Day. By dedicating this day to back the Alliance’s efforts, they are truly playing for change and using their platform to show support for racial equity.”
If Price indeed decides to donate his full day’s wages, it could get well over $100,000. Price’s 2021 salary is $30 million. 1/162 of that is $185,000.
But the exact amount is not nearly as important as the statement it makes. In the press release issued today, Alliance president and one-time Dodger Curtis Granderson said, “On April 15, we honor Jackie Robinson as the first player to break the color barrier, a reminder there is still much work to be done in our game. As The Players Alliance seeks to bridge the gap of racial inequity in baseball, we’re encouraging players, on this date especially, to consider supporting the Alliance and our efforts to continue Jackie’s legacy of breaking barriers.”
Given the somewhat difficult moment in history that we are living through, the number of players who will be signing on to that effort is sure to increase before opening pitch tomorrow.
Since 2004, Jackie Robinson Day has been celebrated around the Majors. It commemorates the first game that Jackie Robinson played for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Boldly signed by GM Branch Rickey, Robinson was the first African American to play in the major leagues. Though he endured abuse from fans and other players, Robinson won Rookie of the year that year, and it was the start of his Hall of Fame career.
These days, every player on every team wears Jackie’s number 42 to honor Robinson, who died in 1972 at the age of 53. His widow, Ruth Robinson, now 98 has been a regular at Dodger Stadium over the years. Here’s to you, David Price and the Players’ Alliance.
And as always, here’s to you, Jackie Robinson.
