By Mark Langill
Today is a special day for Jalal Hazzard, manager of the Dodgers RBI youth program. His father, former UCLA basketball star Walt Hazzard, was born on April 15, 1942. The elder Hazzard passed away in 2011, but left a legacy which coincides with all Major League ballplayers wearing No. 42 on the anniversary of his Brooklyn Dodger debut at Ebbets Field in 1947.
“My dad idolized Jackie Robinson, they both went to UCLA,” Jalal said. “With the Bruins, he wore jersey 42 because of Jackie, and he continued wearing the number throughout most of his NBA career. The only time he didn’t wear 42 was when he played for the Golden State Warriors and Nate Thurmond had 42.”
Also: Over at MLB.com, Lyle Spencer has a story about Robinson’s relationship and impact on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
