Players honor Robinson with day’s pay

The Texas Rangers’ Taylor Hearn played baseball for free Thursday.

The way he — and more than 100 players around the game — figured, it was the least they could do to repay the debt to Jackie Robinson for breaking baseball’s color barrier 74 years ago Thursday.

As baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day with all players wearing No. 42, a number of players pledged to donate a day’s pay to The

Players Alliance, which seeks to help improve Black representation in the sport. The Players Alliance was founded last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the renewed call for social justice and historic lows for Black participation in the major leagues.

For Hearn, scheduled to make $582,500 this year, the donation amounted to a little more than $3,000.

“It means a lot to wear the jersey, but also that guys are supporting the cause,” Hearn, 26, said. “It’s a good day. It’s a good day to reflect. It’s a good day to give thanks to Jackie.”

Cubs

Pitcher Ryan Tepera was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball, which concluded he intentionally threw at Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff this week. Manager David Ross was suspended for one game and fined. Tepera is appealing. Ross will sit out Friday’s game.