The Los Angeles Dodgers have done a magnificent job in honoring the legends that have donned their uniform. Jackie Robinson was among the most recent to be recognized by the organization, as the Dodgers built a statue of him outside of Dodger Stadium.
Robinson will have another statue installed in his honor, with it coming outside of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Robinson will be depicted wearing a football uniform.
Brian Hanlon will lead the sculpting process, with the statue expected to be unveiled during fall of 2017. The statue will be located outside of the main gate to the stadium, with the Rose Bowl marquee and San Gabriel Mountains making for a picturesque backdrop.
The plans were announced by the Rose Bowl Legacy Connections, which handles private non-profit portion of fundraising. The donation comes via Alba and Thomas Tull’s Tull Family Foundation, who both have played an integral role with carrying forward Robinson’s memory.
Thomas, a partner in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ ownership group, produced “42,” the biopic depicting Robinson’s struggles and triumph. His wife Alba serves on the board of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
Robinson is the only athlete to letter in four sports at UCLA. Football put him on the map, as Robinson was voted the 1939 MVP and Western Conference first-team quarterback during his stint with Pasadena Junior College.
Robinson put together one spectacle after another at the Rose Bowl, including his legendary 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, which still stands as a record. UCLA has a statue in Robinson’s honor outside their Jackie Robinson baseball stadium.
The impact that Robinson had on the game of baseball goes far beyond what any others have done, with the 1949 MVP deserving of the never-ending praise. Robinson has strong roots to the Los Angeles area, attending Muir High School, Pasadena Junior College (now City College) and UCLA before his climb to the Majors.
Each professional sport in the United States has transcendent figures that have left a lasting impact. So when it comes to Major League Baseball, it is only natural that Robinson, and his role in breaking the color barrier, stands out amongst the rest.
