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MLB players pay tribute to Jackie Robinson on Twitter

MLB players and teams pay tribute to Jackie Robinson on Jackie Robinson Day. 

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MLB players pay tribute to Jackie Robinson on Twitter
MLB players pay tribute to Jackie Robinson on Twitter /

April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. 

All players, coaches, and managers around the league will wear the No. 42, in honor of former Brooklyn Dodgers' player Jackie Robinson, who became the first black player in the Major Leagues in 1947. 

In addition, the 2015 MLB Civil Rights Game will be held Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, with Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the Seattle Mariners.

• Astronaut Terry Virts pays tribute to Jackie Robinson in space

Players from around the league paid tribute to Robinson on Twitter on Wednesday. A round-up of tweets is below. 

• JAFFE: Revisiting Robinson's debut, 68 years ago today

MLB and teams around the league also paid tribute on Twitter and shared photos of the No. 42 jerseys that will be worn on Wednesday. 

UCLA, Robinson's alma mater, will honor him with special jerseys for Thursday's game against Cal. 

Classic Photos of Jackie Robinson:

Classic Photos of Jackie Robinson

1925-Jackie-Robinson-childhood.jpg
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson, as a young boy, poses while sitting on a chair, circa 1925.

1939-Jackie-Robinson-UCLA-basketball.jpg
Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson shoots the ball while practicing for the UCLA basketball team in 1939. In two years at UCLA, Robinson became a four-letter athlete in track and field, football, basketball and baseball—the first and only in the school’s history.

Jackie-Robinson-military-Black-Panthers-761st-Tank-Battalion_0.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson served in the "Black Panthers" 761st Tank Battalion during World War II but never saw combat. He was nearly court-martialed for refusing to sit in the back of a bus.

1945-Jackie-Robinson-Kansas-City-Monarchs.jpg
Sporting News via Getty Images

Jackie Robinson flashes a smile while playing shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues.

1945-1023-Jackie-Robinson-contract.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson signs with the Montreal Royals, alongside Royals president Hector Racine, Branch Rickey Jr. and Royals vice president Romeo Gauvreau, in 1945.

1946-Jackie-Robinson-Rachel-Isum-wedding_0.jpg
Archive Photos/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson marries Rachel Isum at the Independent Church in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 1946.

1946-0418-Jackie-Robinson-Montreal-Royals-debut.jpg
AP

Montreal outfielder George Shuba congratulates teammate Jackie Robinson as he crosses the plate after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Jersey City Giants at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, N.J., during his professional debut on April 18, 1946.

1947-Jackie-Robinson-contract.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson signs his contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 10, 1947.

1947-John-Jorgensen-Pee-Wee-Reese-Ed-Stanky-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson's first day in the majors, he lined up with teammates (from left) John Jorgensen, Pee Wee Reese and Ed Stanky.

1947-Leo-Durocher-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

Dodgers manager Leo Durocher shakes hands with Jackie Robinson prior to an exhibition game with the Montreal Royals in Havana, Cuba, on March 31, 1947. Following Robinson's promotion to the Dodgers, Durocher addressed the racial tension in the team's clubhouse by informing his players, "I don't care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a ****** zebra. I'm the manager of this team and I say he plays."

1947-Jackie-Robinson-Ben-Chapman.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson poses with Phillies manager Ben Chapman before a game on May 9 ,1947. Weeks earlier, Chapman had shouted racist obscenities at Robinson from the Phillies dugout. Branch Rickey later recalled that Chapman "did more than anybody to unite the Dodgers."

1948-Jackie-Robinson-Branch-Rickey.jpg
TSN/Icon SMI

The architect of the Brooklyn Dodgers dynasty, Branch Rickey, has Jackie Robinson sign another contract before the 1948 season.

1948-Jackie-Robinson-Bill-Salkeld.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson steals home against Braves pitcher Bill Voiselle and catcher Bill Salkeld on Aug. 22, 1948 at Ebbets Field.

1949-Jackie-Robinson-beaned.jpg
Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson is helped by the Dodgers trainer and third base coach after being struck in the head by a pitch during a game in the 1949 season in Brooklyn.

1949-0712-Roy-Campanella-Larry-Doby-Don-Newcombe-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe and Jackie Robinson pose together during the 16th annual All-Star Game, which took place at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 12, 1949. It was the first All-Star Game to feature black players.

1949-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson steps up to bat during a game against the Pirates at a packed Ebbets Field on Aug. 28, 1949.

1949-Jackie-Robinson-MVP-award.jpg
Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson poses with his 1949 NL MVP award. Robison batted .342 with 16 home runs, 124 RBI and 37 stolen bases that season.

1949-Jackie-Robinson-UCLA-basketball-team_0.jpg
Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson greets members of the UCLA basketball team after they defeated City College of New York on Dec. 28, 1949 in New York City. A UCLA alum, Robinson became the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track.

Roy-Campanella-Don-Newcombe-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
George Dorrill/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images

Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Jackie Robinson pose together circa 1950. Campanella joined the Dodgers in 1948, and Newcombe the following year.

1949-stan-musial-gil-hodges-jackie-robinson-ralph-kiner.jpg
Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Stan Musial, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson and Ralph Kiner pose before the start of the All-Star Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit on July 10, 1951. The National League won 8-3.

1951-Preacher-Roe-Wayne-Terwilliger-Jackie-Robinson-Pee-Wee-Reese-Duke-Snider-Chuck-Dressen-Carl-Erskine.jpg
Charles Payne/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

The Dodgers, including (from left) Wayne Terwilliger, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Preacher Roe, Chuck Dressen and Carl Erskine, celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating the Phillies in 14 innings to tie the Giants for first place in the National League on Sept 30, 1951.

1952-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson poses for a portrait in 1952. Robinson had a career-high .440 OBP that season.

1954-Jackie-Robinson-Roy-Campanella-Pee-Wee-Reese.jpg

Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese welcome Jackie Robinson at home plate after his first inning two-run homer against the Pirates at Ebbets Field on April 15, 1954.

1955-Jackie-Robinson-Yogi-Berra.jpg
Mark Kauffman for Sports Illustrated

Jackie Robinson steals home plate against Yogi Berra during Game 1 of the 1955 World Series on Sept. 28, 1955. The Brooklyn Dodgers lost the game 6-5, but went on to beat the New York Yankees 4-3 in the series.

1956-Jackie-Robinson-wife-Rachel-son-Jr.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson with wife, Rachel, and their son David at their home in Stamford, Conn., on Dec. 13, 1956, the day Robinson was traded from the Dodgers to the rival New York Giants. Robinson refused to report to the Giants and retired instead.

1957-Jackie-Robinson-retires.jpg
Barney Stein/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images

Jackie Robinson waves goodbye as he leaves Ebbets Field for the last time in January 1957. Robins retired at the age of 37, ending his major league career after 10 seasons.

1962-Jackie-Robinson-Hall-of-Fame.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame on July 23, 1962. He was inducted in his first year of eligibility.

1963-Jackie-Robinson-Cassius-Clay-Muhammad-Ali.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson hits a punching bag held by Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, in a New York gym in March 1963. Less than a year later, Clay would win the world heavyweight title with a victory over Sonny Liston.

1963-Martin-Luther-King-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robison discuss race relations in Birmingham, Ala., on May 14, 1963. The men shared a belief in pacifism in the face of intolerance.

1972-0719-Clude-Sukeforth-Jackie-Robinson.jpg
AP

Clude Sukeforth, the scout who played a major role in bringing Jackie Robinson to the major leagues, speaks with Robinson during a luncheon honoring Robinson in New York on July 19, 1972.

1972-1015-Jackie-Robinson-first-pitch.jpg
AP

Jackie Robinson makes his final public appearance, as he throws out the ceremonial first pitch of Game 2 of the World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds, alongside Commissioner Bowie Kuhn on Oct. 15, 1972. Robinson would die of a heart attack nine days later at just 53 years old.

2001-kirby-puckett-son-kirby-jr_0.jpg
Jim McKnight/AP

New Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Kirby Puckett and his son, Kirby, Jr., look at the Jackie Robinson exhibit as they tour the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on May 3, 2001.

- Molly Geary

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