ST. PETERSBURG -- Sunday at Tropicana Field, the Rays and the Phillies celebrated the 71st anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.
Jackie Robinson Day is special to the players, all of whom wore No. 42, the number Robinson wore, and the number long ago retired by Major League Baseball.
Rays outfielder Denard Span noted that every year he gains more of an understanding and also an appreciation about what this day means to the game.
Span on Jackie Robinson Day "Not only to myself, but the game in general," Span said.