Should Number 21 Be Permanently Retired??

[BigKen]

Great discussion on ESPN.

Retired and active Hispanic players are pressuring MLB to permanently retire 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente.

They say that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and deserves every honor he's been given,

They say that Clemente died while trying to save people and also died a pauper. He had donated almost very penny he'd earned to improving lives in Central America. Above and beyond he was also a great baseball player who broke the ice for Hispanic players to play in the major leagues.

There's also some argument that Robinson broke the barrier for all colors not just black and while Clemente did a lot of good things, it might start a windfall of numbers being set aside for less and less accountability.

What say you Hoopsters?

Aye or Nay?

 

[BigKen]

I'm in favor of retiring 21.

Many players donate money to charities and causes. Most do it for financial reasons to lower their tax burden.

Clemente just loved his people and lived his life for them and died for them.

JMO.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Absolutely not. Only one number should, and that's 42.

Clemente certainly deserves recognition, but there are many other ways to do it. Finding one that continues his efforts to help others makes more sense.

 

[Mebert]

I am not at all shocked that ESPN would kick off Hispanic Heritage month with some world-class virtue signaling. No doubt that Clemente was a world class person, but I am not really a fan of retiring numbers league wide.

 

[calsnowskier]

This is ridiculous. It dilutes the honor that has been bestowed on Robinson. Robinson’s achievement was a one-off that had societal implications throughout the whole country (entire western world??).

Not to take anything away from Clemente. GREAT guy, no question. Maybe/probably/likely a better human being than Robinson. But that isn’t the point.

 

[redseat]

Do I think Clemente should in some way be honored? ABSOLUTLEY! Do I think his number should be retired? No...

 

[Montalban]

Great discussion on ESPN.

Retired and active Hispanic players are pressuring MLB to permanently retire 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente.

They say that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and deserves every honor he's been given,

They say that Clemente died while trying to save people and also died a pauper. He had donated almost very penny he'd earned to improving lives in Central America. Above and beyond he was also a great baseball player who broke the ice for Hispanic players to play in the major leagues.

There's also some argument that Robinson broke the barrier for all colors not just black and while Clemente did a lot of good things, it might start a windfall of numbers being set aside for less and less accountability.

What say you Hoopsters?

Aye or Nay?

Good lord, get over the racial nonsense. Who cares what nationality or ethnicity he was. He was a brilliant player and a shining light as a humanitarian. I'd rather see him be recognized for that, not because of his race.

 

[Voltaire26]

I love the way Clemente played, and he was a class person who rightly has an award named after him, but I am not in favor of retiring his number league wide. I was in favor of retiring #42.

 

[black francis]

its a shit number anyway

two of the greatest cheaters in mlb history have worn it - clemens and sosa and they are probably the most well known #21s in the modern era

 

[Cedrique]

I'd like to weigh in on this. I am completely indifferent.

 

[Irish7478]

Let Pittsburgh retire his number. Which they did. It doesn’t have to be retired for all of baseball.