The Pirates will wear the jersey number of the Hall of Famer when they host the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park. That day will mark the 60th anniversary of Robinson's big-league debut.

The idea of wearing No. 42 in honor of Robinson will be duplicated throughout the Major Leagues on Sunday and was the brainchild of Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr., who personally petitioned Commissioner Bug Selig last week for the opportunity.

Pirates right-hander Ian Snell is aware of the significance of honoring Robinson.

"I was talking with Shawn Chacon about that not too long ago," Snell explained. "I saw a commercial with Kobe Bryant talking about how much each sport broke its color barrier. He [Robinson] had it rougher than we have it now; I can only imagine what he went through."

The Pirates announced all their uniformed personnel will wear No. 42, April 15, when Major League Baseball celebrates the 60th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier.

"It was way different back then," Snell observed. "Your teammates didn't really acknowledge you unless you did something spectacular and now it's like everybody is buddies and friends, and everybody gets along. It's just amazing how much the game has changed so much because of one person."

Robinson wore No. 42 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Major League Baseball retired that number for every team in 1997.

The Pirates' No. 42 uniforms will be regular uniforms, but no names will appear on the back of the jerseys -- as was the case when Robinson played. The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers will wear similar jerseys with no names on their jerseys that day.

"I think it's good," Snell stated. "It just shows you how much it affects the game, and how much he did for the game. I am going to play that day with honor and wear his number with honor."

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San Francisco left fielder and former Pirate Barry Bonds will also wear No. 42.

"I think the players should wear it, who want to wear it," Selig said.

Other players such as Minnesota's Torii Hunter, Jermaine Dye of the White Sox, Derrek Lee of the Cubs and Gary Sheffield of the Tigers are among the stars who have joined the group to wear No. 42.