Athletics, selected Sox don Robinson's famous No. 42

Each major-league team chose to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day in its own way.

At U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday, the Oakland Athletics and White Sox featured players, managers and coaches who donned No. 42 to honor the 61st anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, coaches Harold Baines and Jeff Cox, along with players Nick Swisher and Jermaine Dye wore No. 42 -- while all the A's wore the number.

Jim Thome would have worn No. 42, but the White Sox' designated hitter was out serving a one-game suspension.

"It's just an honor to pay tribute to a guy like that who went through so much to be able to let a lot of different people, like African-Americans and other races to play in the major leagues," Dye said. "I'll probably just frame (the jersey) and keep it in my house."

"For someone like Jackie Robinson coming in and doing the things he did, I think it's a great honor," Swisher said. "They do it once a year. It's just a huge honor for me. We had the option to wear it, and I decided to wear it."

A's manager Bob Geren said the equipment manager asked who wanted to wear the special jerseys, and everyone agreed it was a great idea.

"It's a tribute when the whole team gathers together and honors a man like that," Geren said. "It was nice to see."

Jackie Robinson Day was perhaps celebrated the most Tuesday at Shea Stadium in New York, most likely because this was the first major-league city he called home when Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In 1997, No. 42 was retired throughout the league.

On Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs' Derrek Lee, Daryle Ward, hitting coach Gerald Perry and bullpen coach Lester Strode all word No. 42 for their game against the Reds.