With the 2020 Major League Baseball indefinitely suspended, the annual Jackie Robinson Day will pass April 15 without the Brooklyn Dodgers legend being recognized on the field by all 30 teams.
While games will not be played Wednesday, MLB Network programming over the weekend is being dedicated to Robinson. It’s highlighted by a new interview with Ken Griffey Jr., who discusses Robinson on MLB Network’s “Play Ball” program, set to air at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday morning.
MLB Network will additionally air memorable games from Jackie Robinson Days of years past, including when the L.A. Dodgers faced the New York Mets on April 15, 1997. James Loney’s walk-off walk in April 2009 will also be shown, and so too will Matt Kemp’s three-hit performance from April 15, 2012.
The Dodgers historically have played at home on Jackie Robinson Day, wearing their iconic white uniform’s with the franchise icon’s No. 42. Kemp got to experience that again as a member of the organization in 2018, and though he returned with the Cincinnati Reds last year, still enjoyed playing at Dodger Stadium on Jackie Robinson Day.
MLB Network programming for Jackie Robinson Weekend (all times PT)
Saturday, April 11
Episode one of “Play Ball” (7 and 9 a.m.)
Ken Griffey Jr. sits down with MLB Network analyst and former Seattle Mariners All-Star Harold Reynolds to discuss the legacy of Jackie Robinson in an all new episode of MLB Network’s “Play Ball.”
Robinson’s place in American sports history is documented throughout the program, plus former Seattle Mariners All-Star Robinson Cano discusses the impact Robinson has made on generations of African-American players.
Episode two of “Play Ball” (7:30 and 9:30 a.m., and 3 p.m.)
A countdown style looking back at some of the top moments from previous Jackie Robinson Days in Major League Baseball.
Dodgers @ Mets, 1997 (50-year Anniversary of April 15, 1947, No. 42 is retired across baseball), at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
White Sox @ Indians, 2007 (CC Sabathia strikes out 10 in eight innings), at 1 p.m.
The Jackie Robinson Story (3 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.)
The Jackie Robinson Story traces his career from the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues as he becomes the first African-American MLB player in the 20th century.
Sunday
The Jackie Robinson Story (8:30 a.m.)
Pirates @ Cubs, 2017 (70-year Anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day, Pirates stage a thrilling comeback win), at 10 a.m.
Giants @ Dodgers, 2009 (James Loney walk-off walk), at 1 p.m.
“Letters from Jackie” at 4 p.m.
Show focuses on Robinson’s role in the American civil rights movement, predominantly after he retired from baseball.
Hosted by Curtis Granderson and narrated by actor Dennis Haysbert, the story is told in Robinson’s own words, through correspondence he maintained during his lifetime with political figures including Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, and a young pen pal named Ron Rabinovitz, with whom Robinson kept in touch from 1955 to his death in 1972.
Angels @ Yankees, 2010, at 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Episode one of “Play Ball” (5:30 a.m.)
Angels @ Yankees, 2010, at 6 a.m.
Pirates @ Cubs, 2017, at 9 a.m.
Padres @ Dodgers, 2012 (Kemp three hits and one home run) at 12 p.m.
MLB Network’s “MLB Tonight” focused on Jackie Robinson at 3 p.m.
Ken Burns: Jackie Robinson Dedicated Episodes
Part One airs at 4 p.m.
Part Two airs at 6:30 p.m.
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