Sixty years ago today, Jackie Robinson made his debut in the Brooklyn Dodgers' lineup, and the game was forever changed. If you can't make it to the ballpark, ESPN will help you observe the occasion.

What: SportsCenter Special: Jackie Robinson 60th Anniversary

When: 5-6 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Postscript: ESPN will devote portions of SportsCenter (6- 7 p.m.) and Baseball Tonight (7-8 p.m.) to Jackie Robinson Day festivities, as well as pregame ceremonies at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers play the Padres in the Sunday night game of the week (8 p.m.). Robinson's widow, Rachel, will attend, as will commissioner Bud Selig and Dodgers teammate Don Newcombe.

42 long

Ten days ago, Ken Griffey Jr. petitioned commissioner Bud Selig to be allowed to wear Robinson's number, 42, for the Reds' game today against the Cubs. From there, the idea spread to break out Robinson's number, which was retired for all teams 10 years ago. Six entire teams, including the Pirates, will wear it, as will numerous stars.

The last one

Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera was given No. 42 sometime during his rookie season in 1995, and it was two years before he realized that Jackie Robinson had worn it.

When the number was retired throughout baseball in 1997, active players who were then wearing it were allowed to keep it. The only one left is Rivera, who now feels a kinship with Robinson.

"The legacy that Jackie left for us, especially as a minority player like me, being the last one to wear No. 42 is an honor, and I do carry it with honor," Rivera told The New York Times this week. "I'm blessed."

Dateline: Brooklyn

The first few paragraphs of The Associated Press game story as it ran on the wire that afternoon. Note how, today, we might consider the Robinson story line underplayed.

BROOKLYN -- Pete Reiser, key to Brooklyn's flag chances, blazed a seventh-inning double off the screen a foot inside the right-field foul line at Ebbets Field today to drive across the tying and winning runs as the pilotless Dodgers opened their 1947 campaign with a 5-to-3 victory over the Boston Braves.

Although he did not get a hit in four official times at bat, Jackie Robinson, first Negro to play in modern big league ball, signalized his official debut as a Dodger by sprinting home with the deciding run on Reiser's smash and playing perfect ball at first base.

They said it

Comments from players when told they would be allowed the honor of wearing No. 42 today:

"Too bad you can't print facial expressions. I'm in awe."

-- Dmitri Young, Nationals

"It just shows you how much it affects the game, and how much he did for the game. I am going to play that day with honor and wear his number with honor."

-- Ian Snell, Pirates