On that date, center fielder Vernon Wells, designated hitter Frank Thomas, shortstop Royce Clayton and hitting coach Mickey Brantley all will wear the uniform No. 42 in celebration of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut in 1947.

"I think it's something very small that we can do, as players, to just basically say thank you for what [Robinson] had to go through in order to allow African-Americans to be part of the game today," Wells said. "It means a lot, to be able to put that number on and have it on your back. You see a lot of footage of him playing, and about a lot of the things he had to go through, both on and off the field, and I think it's just an honor to wear No. 42 on my back."

The idea surfaced earlier in the week, when Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. contacted Commissioner Bud Selig for permission to wear Robinson's number as a tribute on the 60th anniversary of Robinson's Major League debut.

From there, Selig granted permission for any player on each of the other 29 clubs to wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day.

"This is a wonderful gesture on Ken's part and a fitting tribute to the great Jackie Robinson and one, I believe, that all clubs will eagerly endorse," Selig said. "To make this happen, I gladly will temporarily suspend the official retirement of uniform No. 42 on that day.

"Jackie continues to be an inspiration to all of our players, and his impact will be felt for as long as our game is played. I thank Ken for finding another special way to mark Jackie Robinson Day."

Robinson's number was retired throughout baseball in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his debut. The significance of Robinson's accomplishments certainly isn't lost on Wells, who said he is pleased that baseball continues to make strides in a positive direction.

"I think baseball as a whole is trying to bring baseball into some of the inner cities and get African-Americans more interested in the game," Wells said. "I think the biggest thing is that it's a lot easier to go to basketball, or go to football. You can go play pickup games on a court; there's not too many baseball fields in the inner cities.

"Baseball's doing their part. Hopefully we'll continue it and it will start to grow from here on out."

30 years and counting: Saturday marks the 30-year anniversary of Toronto's first game, against the White Sox at Exhibition Stadium in 1977. First baseman Doug Ault homered twice and the day ended with a 9-5 win, yet 10 current Jays were not in on the celebration -- because they'd yet to be born.

Right-handers Jeremy Accardo, Jason Frasor, Roy Halladay, Casey Janssen and Shawn Marcum, left-hander Gustavo Chacin, infielders Aaron Hill and Jason Smith, and outfielders Wells and Alex Rios all are under 30 years of age.

By the numbers: Toronto and Tampa Bay cross paths 18 times this season, nine at home and nine on the road. The Jays are 12-6 at Tropicana Field going back to the 2005 season, but had a four-game win streak snapped Friday night.

Did you know? When Chacin was tagged for three home runs on Friday night, it was just the third time in his career that it had happened. The homer he served up to Akinori Iwamura was just the 10th that Chacin had surrendered to a lefty in his 54 career Major League games.

Up next: Toronto will conclude its three-game series against the Rays with an Easter Sunday rubber match at Tropicana Field. The Jays will send 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay to the mound for his second start of the season, and he'll oppose Tampa Bay's ace lefty Scott Kazmir. Game time is set for 1:40 p.m. ET.