Griffey pays special tribute to race pioneer Robinson

Opening Day was even more special to Seattle Mariners star KenGriffey Jr. this season because it honored Jackie Robinson.

Griffey hit two home runs in a victory against the New YorkYankees, one of which passed over a right-field banner honoring the50th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball.

"Let them stand as my tribute to Jackie," Griffey said. "I'mnot going to try to tell you I tried to do that. I just try to dowhat I can to help this team win. But since they came and I'd liketo have something to mark this game for Jackie, they'll do.""Kenny rises to an occasion as well as anybody I've ever seen,"Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "When adrenaline flows, theconcentration gets sharper. Add the ability factor, and you've got ahell of a mix."FOOD FOR THOUGHT: After the St. Louis Cardinals arrived inMontreal last Sunday, manager Tony La Russa sponsored a get-togetherfor his players at an Italian restaurant.The players all received special National League CentralDivision championship watches, then proceeded to get swept by theExpos in three games."We had such a great season last year, then it ended so abruptlythat we never had a chance to enjoy it and really reward theplayers," general manager Walt Jocketty said.La Russa said he wanted his players to have a tangible reminderof what they had accomplished last season."Some of my best memories are winning division titles in 1983(with the White Sox) and 1992 (with the Oakland Athletics)," he said."But those are just memories. This is something the players can lookat."NOTES: The Cleveland Indians led all teams in merchandise saleslast season, followed by the Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Mariners andWhite Sox.What is holding up a trade involving Los Angeles knuckleballer TomCandiotti is how much of his $3 million salary the Dodgers will pickup.