Why did Jackie Robinson wear 42?

Answer 1

MLB retired the #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson at the start of the 1997. However, anybody who was wearing #42 at that time was allowed to continue to wear it. Rivera is the last active player who was wearing #42 at the time it was retired. Once Rivera retires, no one will wear the #42 again.

Answer 2

The Yankees' Rivera and Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox were allowed to wear #42 after Major League Baseball retired the number in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Furthermore, Rivera's rookie season in 1995 was before the universal retirement of Jackie Robinson's number in 1997. When Rivera retires, no one will be issued #42 ever again in professional American Baseball.

Answer 3

Mariano Rivera wears #42 for the Yankees.

Answer 4

That was coach Mike Brown in 1994. The last player to wear #42 before Rivera was pitcher John Habyan from 1991-1993.