Astros, Porter pay homage to Jackie Robinson

HOUSTON -- Because the Astros were on the road for Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, the club recognized the man who broke baseball's color barrier prior to Friday's game.

Manager Bo Porter was joined by first-base coach Dave Clark and players Chris Carter, Justin Maxwell and Wesley Wright on the field with kids from the Astros Urban Youth Academy.

Porter, who's the second full-time African American manager in Astros history, took advantage of Thursday's off-day by taking his wife to see the movie '42,' which depicts the struggles Robinson had to endure.

"It's a must-see for everyone," Porter said. "They did a great job of presenting the information and really letting the country see all of the struggles in which Jackie Robinson had to deal with, not just from a baseball standpoint, but just from the media standpoint, his teammates, all the different parameters that came with him being the first African American in Major League Baseball.

"It gives you a great appreciation when you really to get see what someone else had to experience, just for a person like myself and many other people to have the opportunity we had. It really makes you take a step back and appreciate it and feel a sense of responsibly."

Porter, who was recognized by the Rangers during his playing days with the Jackie Robinson Award, said the movie brought him to tears.

"To be able to see it played out on the big screen and have a background with it, it was emotional," he said. "It brought tears to my eyes at the end. It was more tears of joy than anything."