The Los Angeles Dodgers, in conjunction with all teams across Major League Baseball, are celebrating the 78th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier on Tuesday.
Every year on April 15, teams, players, managers and coaches have the opportunity to wear Robinson’s historic No. 42. Regardless of primary team colors, the No. 42 on every jersey will be Dodger Blue.
Additionally, players, coaches, managers, and umpires will have New Era caps with a “42” side, Nike “Breaking Barriers” t-shirts will be worn during batting practice, and Royal blue Stance Jackie Robinson socks will be available for players.
Commemorative base jewels and lineup cards will be used for each game across the league.
A special tribute video, produced by MLB Network featuring AJ Andrews will be shown in all ballparks on Jackie Robinson Day. The video also will be played on MLB.com, MLB Social Platforms, MLB.TV and more.
Jackie Robinson Day celebration events and programs
How MLB is celebrating
MLB is hosting a volunteer event at their league office in collaboration with Henry Street Settlement. Event volunteers will assemble 200 Hygiene Kits that will be donated to Henry Street Settlement to support their CONNECT program (Continuous Engagement between Clients and Clinicians over Time).
The CONNECT program is designed to provide long-term support and engagement for individuals facing mental health challenges and provides a crucial role in ensuring that individuals do not fall through the cracks in the mental health system.
MLB and the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) have continued their longstanding partnership, primarily to provide students from under-represented communities with college scholarships.
Many of the current JRF Scholars, as well as JRF Scholars alumni, will be recognized by teams throughout baseball.
Historically, MLB and clubs have contributed approximately $20 million to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, including supporting college scholarships for more than 150 JRF scholars.
Printable education activities aimed at providing kids information on Jackie’s life and legacy will be found at MLBTogether.com/42. This includes fun activities such as word scramble, word search and coloring pages.
MLB’s video game franchise, MLB The Show, will continue to support the legacy of Jackie Robinson through different playable game modes, experience the unique moment of wearing the custom uniform that our clubs wear to support Jackie Robinson Day and so much more.
Sony Interactive Entertainment and San Diego Studio will once again sell a Jackie Robinson Foundation Pack that will support the JRF/MLB The Show Scholars program, supported by PlayStation Career Pathways Program, to help reduce the achievement gap in higher education.
MLB Network and MLB.com will highlight Jackie Robinson related programming and content throughout Jackie Robinson Day. MLB.com and all 30 team websites will have extensive editorial content and coverage highlighting a special connection with Jackie, as well as features that explore his impact as a baseball pioneer and his influence over today’s players.
Additionally, Harold Reynolds will report from The Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City on MLB Network’s newly Emmy-nominated MLB Central (7 a.m. PT) and again on the Emmy-winning “MLB Tonight: National Pregame Show” (2 p.m.).
As part of the “MLB Tonight” coverage from Studio 42, Reynolds will interview five MLB Develops alumni – who are now all Division 1 baseball players and wear No. 42 in honor of Robinson, including Alton Davis II (University of Georgia), Troy Sanders (Grand Canyon University), RJ Austin (Vanderbilt University), Oliver Service (University of Texas) and Eddie King Jr. (Louisville).
MLB social media platforms in both English and Spanish will demonstrate the many ways Robinson inspired baseball and society including his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, his character and what he represented throughout his life. Highlights include custom illustrations, collages, classic Jackie Robinson highlights and infographics.
Formerly the Spring Training home of the Dodgers and now MLB-operated, Jackie Robinson Training Complex located in Vero Beach, Fla., will host a Minor League affiliate game between the Clearwater Threshers and the Palm Beach Cardinals in historic Holman Stadium where Jackie once played. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:42 p.m.
The event, hosted by MLB, the Jackie Robinson Training Complex and the United Way of Indian River County, aims to celebrate Robinson’s groundbreaking impact, unite the community, and raises funds to support vital programs and services in Indian River County.
Dodgers celebrating
On April, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) hosted a coaches training at Dodger Stadium. This special training and Coaches Playbook curriculum is deeply rooted in Jackie’s Nine Values.
Approximately 200 of the coaches who participated in the training will be in attendance of the game on Jackie Robinson Day, while 150 Jackie Robinson Foundation Alumni and 10 LADF/Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars will be in attendance to celebrate the special day.
As tradition, the 10 scholars will participate in a special tour highlighting new stories revolving around Jackie Robinson and those that helped him along the way.
Additionally, the Dodgers will host a career panel with ERGs which will focus on the insights of sport focused career paths. On Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium, LADF/JRF alumni, scholars, and Jackie’s family will be celebrated on-field ahead of the game.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers will also welcome third grade students of Aveson Charter School in Pasadena to a special Jackie Robinson panel session and workshop. The event will feature Jerry Hairston Jr., who will speak to the students about Jackie Robinson’s incredible impact on baseball and civil rights.
Following the discussion, the students will enjoy a fun and interactive Jackie Robinson trivia game, designed to reinforce the lessons learned during the session. In addition, students will have the exciting opportunity to take photos with the Dodgers’ World Series trophy, making this educational experience even more memorable.
Finally on Tuesday afternoon, the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies will participate in a pre-game reflection at the Jackie Robinson statue to discuss his continued impact on today’s game.
Proceeds from LADF’s 50/50 raffle and online auction on Jackie Robinson Day will go toward benefiting the Jackie Robinson Foundation to help support their efforts in addressing the financial needs of minority college students and providing extensive, hands-on mentoring and support services.
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