When will Ichiro be honored as the first Japanese player in MLB?
It never ends.
When I think of Roberto, I don't think of his role as a hispanic baseball player. I think of the guy who DIED trying to help his countrymen after a disaster.
That enough is reason to honor him. We don't need to pander to particular racial groups.
What about honoring Stan Musial for what he did for us Polish-Americans, while they're at it?
I'm against retiring numbers. What happens one hundred years from now when all the numbers are used up? I'm sick of seeing arenas with the rafters looking like the inside of a sportswear store. Put up monuments for the genuine heroes like Robinson and be done with it. But don't retire numbers.
The list of "first" players who could be so honored is endless.
What Robinson did was remarkable. It was singularly unique, and he deserves to be honored in a unique fashion.
Clemente himself has an honor unique to him (being the only Hall of Famer to have the mandatory 5-year waiting period waived). He's had a stamp in his honor, Pittsburgh has named a bridge after him, how much is enough?
Stand fast, Bud. Don't bend to this silly pressure.