Wow, The Second Retired Number in a Month.

Sometimes it takes a while to decide a match on a retired number. This one was a no-brainer. To Paul Newman we bestow Jackie Robinson’s number 42. 

I’m sure everyone has been deluged with fond remembrances of Paul. He is one of the few names that could ever wear the number 42. He changed what an actor’s celebrity meant, like Robinson changed the perspective of what a ballplayer is.

There are three things that are important in acting and baseball; fundamentals, fundamentals and fundamentals. The are not only the basics of sport and acting but the basics of being human  Pay attention to details, go full force except when it is time to be subtle, when you get kicked stand up and help out folks who need it. Newman was one of the first actor’s to come out of the Strasberg school and then was able to maintain his street cred even after becoming a movie star. Jackie came out of the sandlots and Negro leagues and never forgot where he had come from either. 

We know about Newman’s philanthropy and dedication to his family. Robinson was the same way, by creating the Jackie Robinson Foundation millions have been able to obtain scholarships and he has also, along with 40 years of posthumous support from his wife, has donated to Juvenile Diabetes organizations. Not always for the cure, but for something more important, empowerment of children.  To be a good ballplayer today with Type-1 is damn near impossible, then add in the rudimentary insulin procedures of the time. Then add-in the race factor. The guy was truly amazing.

They both embodied the highest order of what a person can be, if they stick to the fundamentals.