#Shortstops: Making a (fashion) statement

There was one exception to this, however, when MLB decided to have promotional initiatives for events like Mother’s Day, Players Weekend and Jackie Robinson Day (April 15th). On those days, MLB loosened its restrictions to let players show their personality or appreciation. One player who never missed an opportunity to showcase his appreciation was Curtis Granderson.

In a 2017 article for Ebony, Granderson wrote how important it is to him that he gets the opportunity to play baseball with a diverse group of fans and players, and how this was possible “all because Jackie Robinson had the courage to go first.” Like Robinson, Granderson has sought to pave the way for future baseball players from his community. In fact, Granderson would often auction off cleats from these special days to support his Grand Kids foundation or the Chicago Baseball and Education Academy, which focuses on supporting education and access to baseball in inner cities.

On Jackie Robinson Day, Granderson would auction his specialized tribute cleats and donate the proceeds to the Jackie Robinson foundation.

Upon learning that his Blue Jays would be playing in Cleveland for Jackie Robinson Day in 2018, Granderson believed simply honoring Jackie wouldn’t be enough. He decided his cleats that day would honor another baseball trailblazer – Indians legend Larry Doby. Doby was the first Black player in the American League, debuting on July 5, 1947, and went on to have a Hall of Fame career batting .283 with 253 homers and 970 RBI in American League games before being inducted in 1998. Granderson’s personalized cleats were unique, with the right cleat paying homage to Doby and the left cleat to Robinson.

After a rainstorm canceled the Blue Jays’ planned Jackie Robinson Day game, Granderson was finally able to don the cleats April 17, 2018 when Jackie Robinson day was celebrated in Toronto as part of the first game of a doubleheader against the Royals. Granderson pinch hit for the Blue Jays in the sixth inning and went 0-for-2 with a deep flyout and a strikeout.