LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers players, in full uniform, walked together through the center-field gate Friday afternoon, gathered around the Jackie Robinson statue, listened to an impassioned 20-minute speech, and took pictures.
They quickly retreated to the clubhouse, took off their uniforms, and began to prepare for their game against the Cincinnati Reds.
One man stayed.
Dodgers All-Star third baseman Justin Turner simply wasn’t ready to leave.
Turner stayed, speaking to anyone and everyone who had a camera, a notepad or a microphone, and all the while he kept his eye on the man who spoke to the team.
Finally, he saw an opening.
David Robinson, the son of immortal Jackie Robinson, was alone. Turner rushed up, extended his right hand, and shook it vigorously.
“Thank you for coming out,’’ Turner said. “Thank you. Thank you. It means so much to us.’’
They talked for a few minutes. Turner pointed to his white uniform top, with “Dodgers” on the front and the number “42” on the back, and told Robinson just what it meant to him personally.
“There’s a lot accountability, a lot of responsibility when you wear this jersey,’’ Turner told him, adding that “There’s an opportunity to do something special.’’
As Turner started to walk away, he asked Robinson if he wanted to step in and play third base in the game.
“Well, not if you’re trying to win,’’ Robinson, 70, said with a laugh.
Robinson carried his father’s legacy throughout the day on the…
