Jackie's Day time for Target Field celebration

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins will commemorate the 67th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier with some special events at Target Field before Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Twins will present a Celebrate Diversity Day in tribute to Robinson's impact on the game and this country. The day will feature a pregame lineup of musical and cultural performances. In addition, Jackie Robinson Essay winners will be presented with awards during a pregame ceremony.

As usual, players from both teams will wear the No. 42 to honor Robinson's legacy. In 1997, Commissioner Bud Selig declared that the No. 42 would be retired throughout all of MLB.

"I think it's great how baseball has come a long ways in understanding how vital he was to this sport and what he meant to this country," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

"I can't get enough of watching [the movie '42']," he said, "just because I love baseball movies in the first place. I don't even think that tells you how tough that was for him."

Twins second baseman Brian Dozier sees the day as a way to honor Robinson as well as recognize how far we've come as a society.

"This will be my third year participating in it," Dozier said. "Everybody loves that kind of day. It not only changed the game of baseball, it changed life itself. Everybody is equal in this world. We respect that and we love it. It's pretty cool."