ANNIVERSARY Baseball takes time to honor Robinson

Celebrations were held at every ball park.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mahlon Duckett remembers being a bit worried when Jackie Robinson left the Negro Leagues to join the Brooklyn Dodgers' organization.
"At first, I was a little leery because he wasn't the best ballplayer in the league in 1945," the former Philadelphia Stars player said.
"But I felt great when he went up there. I knew that he could play some ball," he said.
"I never thought that he would turn out to be the player that he turned out to be, and that's one of the greatest of all time."
At stadiums all across the majors Thursday, baseball paused for Jackie Robinson Day. There were video tributes, speeches and commemorative No. 42 signs honoring the Hall of Famer who broke the sport's color barrier.
"When you look back on the history of our game, Jackie Robinson coming into baseball -- there's no question in my mind that April 15, 1947, was the most powerful moment in baseball history," commissioner Bud Selig said at Shea Stadium.
Widow at Shea Stadium
Robinson's widow, Rachel, was escorted onto the field by Selig and New York Mets center fielder Mike Cameron before the game against Atlanta.
"[Robinson's daughter] Sharon and I know that a younger generation are beginning to discover Jackie Robinson. We're proud of all the progress," she said.
"I also know in a very intense and passionate way that there's a lot that still needs to be done in baseball and in life."
Starting this year, every April 15 will be celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day in the majors.
His No. 42 was retired throughout baseball in 1997 when the sport paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of the day he debuted for Brooklyn.
Players who wore No. 42 at the time were allowed to keep it. Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees and injured Mo Vaughn of the Mets still have it.
About 90 members of Robinson's family were on the field at Anaheim before the Angels played Seattle. Throwing out the first ball was Raymond Pound, the Jackie Robinson scholar from UCLA.
McClendon grateful
At Wrigley Field, manager Lloyd McClendon of the Pittsburgh Pirates spoke of what the day represented.
He, the Cubs Dusty Baker and Montreal's Frank Robinson are the only three black managers in the majors.
"I don't necessarily have to hear his name or have a special day to recognize or respect what Jackie Robinson and other great minorities have done to pave the way for myself and others. I'm grateful every day," McClendon said.
"Certainly generations of fans have changed, and knowledge slips away a little bit. But baseball has done a nice job. We ought to keep that up. We shouldn't forget the past. I think because of those struggles, we have a better game today," he said.