The Dodgers and Major League Baseball will honor an American hero Wednesday when the league marks the 79th anniversary of a monumental moment on this date in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.
At Dodger Stadium, several events are planned for Jackie Robinson Day, including one pre-game tradition that began in 2021. The Dodgers and New York Mets will join each other at the Robinson statue in the Centerfield Plaza, an annual gathering that began five seasons ago when manager Dave Roberts spoke about Robinson’s history-making impact on the game and his legacy.
In 2023, the Dodgers were joined for the first time at the statue by their opponents after the Chicago Cubs social media team requested to be part of the pre-game Jackie Robinson Day event.
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Robinson’s granddaughters, Sonya Pankey Robinson and Ayo Robinson, and Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman, the CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, are also set to speak. Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars are also set to attend the gathering.
Members of the NCAA champion UCLA women’s basketball team will bring their trophy and throw an honorary first pitch. Robinson, a Dodger and Bruin, was the first UCLA athlete to letter in four sports — baseball, basketball, football and track and field.
Pankey Robinson will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
Kendrick, Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars, Ayo Robinson and McKenzie-Whiteman will make the announcement that precedes every Dodger game at Dodger Stadium, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”
Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973, the year following her husband’s death at the age of 53. It provides four-year college scholarships to disadvantaged students of color.
All players to wear 42 on Jackie Robinson Day
In a league-wide tradition that dates to 2009, all players, coaches and managers will wear Robinson’s No. 42 for all of Wednesday’s major league games. Players, coaches, managers and umpires will wear caps with a “42” side patch and royal blue 42 socks.
The recognition will also include commemorative base jewels, lineup cards and “Breaking Barriers” batting practice shirts.
The No. 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s April 15, 1947, debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
About Jackie Robinson’s big league debut
Until Robinson stepped on the field April 15, 1947, baseball had been a segregated sport for about 60 years.
Robinson — who was raised in Pasadena and attended Muir High School and Pasadena City College — went hitless in four at-bats in his major league debut, but scored what proved to be the winning run in Brooklyn’s 5-3 victory over the Boston Braves in front of a crowd announced at 25,623 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
Robinson played his entire major league career with Brooklyn, helping lead the Dodgers to six National League pennants during his 10 seasons, and, in 1955, their only World Series championship in Brooklyn.
Robinson’s successful integration of Major League Baseball is credited with helping change Americans’ attitudes toward Black athletes. The change he helped being about became a catalyst for other civil rights advances.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
