Dodgers celebrate Jackie Robinson Day
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers joined Major League Baseball in celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today on the 74th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier with programming at Dodger Stadium and in the community:
Dodgers Dreamfield Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony in Compton: Earlier today, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), in partnership with the City of Compton, Kershaw’s Challenge and the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA), unveiled the Phase One completion of a multi-million-dollar Dodgers Dreamfields complex at Gonzales Park in Compton. Designed to support youth baseball and softball, from T-ball to college athletics, the Dodgers Dreamfields at Gonzales Park feature three fields (Field 42, Rachel Robinson Field and Jackie Robinson Stadium) with new playing surfaces, fencing, dugouts, irrigation upgrades, lighting, paint, and scoreboards. The project also included LADF’s Science of Baseball outdoor classroom and the Kershaw’s Challenge Training and Fitness Zone. Photos and video can be downloaded at these links.
Team Meeting at Jackie Robinson statue: Earlier today, the Dodgers held a team meeting at the Jackie Robinson statue in the Center Field Plaza, where Dodger Manager Dave Roberts shared his thoughts on Robinson’s continued impact on today’s game. Photos and video can be downloaded at these links.
Pregame Ceremonies: The Dodgers recognized Jackie Robinson’s legacy with video tributes throughout tonight’s game. Additionally, Jalen Spicer, a senior baseball player at Jackie Robinson’s alma mater John Muir High School, announced ‘It’s Time for Dodger Baseball’ and Jason White, Director of Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir, sang the national anthem. Video assets of Jalen Spicer’s day at Dodger Stadium, which started with a surprise video conference with Dave Roberts and included a socially distanced meeting with Roberts, Mookie Betts and David Price, can be downloaded at this link.
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Auction: Fans are invited to support the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s online auction of autographed Dodger player jerseys through April 25 at Dodgers.com/Auctions. Net proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation/Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarships to address the financial needs of minority college students and provide extensive, hands-on mentoring and support services.
Number ‘42’: Players, managers, coaches, umpires and all on-field personnel wore Robinson’s iconic number in tonight’s game, which included a ‘42’ logo patch on uniform sleeves and on New Era caps. MLB will donate all licensed royalties from the sales of caps to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Special batting practice t-shirts, which have been designed by The Players Alliance and provided by Nike, were worn by players prior to games.