"Baseball people, and that includes myself, are slow to change and accept new ideas. I remember that it took years to persuade them to put numbers on uniforms"

Branch Rickey's quote highlights a widely known element of baseball-- a sport deeply rooted in custom and resistant to alter. By saying, "Baseball individuals, which includes myself, are slow to alter and accept originalities," Rickey acknowledges his own recognition with this conservative mindset, in spite of being one of baseball's most innovative figures. He's maybe best known for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, but here he describes a broader cultural inertia within the sport.

Rickey's remark about how long it took "to persuade them to put numbers on uniforms" functions as a particular example of this reluctance. Consistent numbers, which are now an intrinsic part of the video game, help fans and commentators identify players quickly. Initially, however, this innovation faced resistance. The delay didn't come from any technical or logistical troubles however rather from a traditionalist frame of mind that saw no need to modify the status quo. To Rickey, the pushback versus something as easy and beneficial as consistent numbers exhibited baseball's hesitation to welcome even small changes.

By including himself among those resistant to alter, Rickey suggests that this conservatism is not merely a flaw of others however rather an intrinsic trait among those deeply embedded in the sport. His acknowledgment functions as a require self-questioning among his peers, motivating them to evaluate whether their resistance to alter is sensible or simply regular.

In a wider context, Rickey's quote underscores the stress in between custom and development in all spheres, not simply sports. While custom supplies a sense of history and continuity, clinging too firmly to it can suppress development and improvement. Rickey's own profession exemplifies a balance in between appreciating baseball's customs while also recognizing when change is necessary for progress. This balance in between reverence for the past and openness to the future is vital for any organization seeking to develop and flourish.