April 15 represents an important day in Major League Baseball, and especially for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as it is the annual celebration and recognition of Jackie Robinson, who made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and broke MLB’s color barrier.
During the 2021 season, manager Dave Roberts began a tradition of gathering the Dodgers players, front office members and personnel at the Jackie Robinson statue in the center field plaza of Dodger Stadium to celebrate and honor Robinson’s legacy.
Since then, they have been joined by the Chicago Cubs in 2023 and Washington Nationals last year.
The ceremony has usually included speeches, with Reggie Smith, Jason Heyward, Roberts and Dave Martinez among those who have addressed the group.
When the Cubs became the first team to join the Dodgers, Heyward was grateful for the opportunity to speak to both clubs, and before the game, he delivered another speech to the Dodger Stadium crowd.
“Amazing opportunity,” Heyward said after delivering his message. “I feel like timing is everything, for all of us in every walk of life. Super cool, 14-year Major Leaguer, to have a chance to address everyone that came out here wanting to show support, pay homage and acknowledge Jackie Robinson Day.”
Last year, civil rights activist, educator and author Dr. Harry Edwards and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO and former Jackie Robinson scholar Nichol Whiteman joined Roberts, Martinez and Smith in speaking to the clubs.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to speak to Dodgers & Rockies
For the 2025 season, the Dodgers are set to host the Colorado Rockies on Jackie Robinson Day, and they will both meet at the statue to continue the tradition.
“It’s a great day. And kind of in conjunction along with the Nationals, I think that we’re starting to establish a pretty cool tradition for the players, to get them together in front of Jackie’s statue, and just have a little bit of time to reflect and go back years and understand impact, legacy and responsibility to us,” Roberts said last year during the meeting at the statue.
Among those in attendance and set to give speeches are Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the oldest granddaughter of Jackie and Rachel Robinson, Sonya Pankey. Roberts and Whiteman are also going to give speeches, and Jackie Robinson Foundations Scholars will be at the event as well.
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