HOUSTON -- The world champion St. Louis Cardinals have decided to give Jackie Robinson an unprecedented tribute when Major League Baseball celebrates the 60th anniversary of the ground-breaking Hall of Famer's Major League debut.

For the first time in franchise history, the entire St. Louis roster will be wearing Robinson's No. 42 when the Cardinals host the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, April 15.

"We just heard today that that was possible to do, so we checked with the players and they all wanted to do it," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said on Friday. "I guess that sends a message about how this club feels about what he went through [and the] opportunities he's provided for others."

Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and as part of the 50th anniversary of that event in 1997, Major League Baseball retired No. 42 throughout the game.

Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. lobbied MLB for permission to wear the number for this year's 60th anniversary celebration, and other teams were encouraged to take part.

The entire Dodgers team will also wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day. Other confirmed participants include the Giants' Barry Bonds, the Tigers' Gary Sheffield, the Astros' Carlos Lee, Bill Hall of the Brewers and the Cubs' Derrek Lee.