Reds-Mariners start time represents perfect, subtle honor on Jackie Robinson Day

There are several dates marked out on the Major League Baseball calendar. The Fourth of July oftentimes sees some of baseball's best teams and players take the field while fans enjoy backyard barbecues while entertaining friends and family. Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated with accents of pink and blue while players pay homage to their parents for the sacrifices that so many moms and dads made while helping their sons achieve their big-league dreams.

But few days during the baseball season are more revered than Jackie Robinson Day. MLB's color barrier was broken on April 15, 1947 when Robinson made his major league debut after taking the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was a landmark moment, not just for baseball, but for our country's history and advancement.

Baseball recognizes April 15 every season as Jackie Robinson Day, and players from all over the league will don No. 42 as a sign of respect and admiration. The day is set aside to honor the life, values and accomplishments of Robinson. This year, the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners have the perfect, yet subtle way to honor Robinson and his family, in addition to the standard practices.

Reds-Mariners set to start game on Jackie Robinson Day at 9:42 p.m. ET

The Reds and Mariners open a three-game series at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday night. Stepping onto the rubber for the Reds will be Frankie Montas, and he'll be opposed by Mariners' right-hander George Kirby.

The Mariners, as the home team, will be on the mound to start the game with the first pitch scheduled for 9:42 p.m. ET. That's right, rather than the Mariners' typical Monday evening start time of 9:40 p.m. ET, Seattle is bumping it back by two minutes to further capture the essence of 42.

Of course, the No. 42 was worn by Robinson and has been retired throughout all of Major League Baseball. The Reds and Mariners are the only two teams that have altered the start game of Monday's slate of games.

This is a brilliant and well-placed way for these two ball clubs to honor Robinson's legacy in a new and creative way, and perhaps it's a gesture that all major league teams will adopt going forward. Today, every player will wear No. 42. The Reds and Mariners can take that extra two minutes to reflect on what Robinson's legacy means for the game of baseball.

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