LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will join Major League Baseball in celebrating Jackie Robinson Day this weekend with a "Breaking Barriers: A Legacy of Jackie Robinson" panel for 100 students tomorrow at Dodger Stadium and with special pregame ceremonies on Sunday, the 71st anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.
"Breaking Barriers: A Legacy of Jackie Robinson" Panel
Tomorrow - Friday, April 13 at 10:15 a.m.; Stadium Club, Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers will kick off their celebration of Jackie Robinson Day by hosting a "Breaking Barriers: A Legacy of Jackie Robinson" panel tomorrow for 100 students from John Muir High School (Jackie Robinson's alma mater), Garfield High School and others from select LAUSD schools, where students will hear from leaders in sports, science and business who have hit notable milestones in their careers. The program also includes an exercise where students will reflect on their own personal barriers and come up with solutions on how to overcome obstacles and become change-makers in their prospective fields. The panel will include Dodger Manager Dave Roberts, Dodger Research & Development Manager Megan Schroeder, Coca-Cola North America Vice President of Latin Affairs Peter Villegas and NASA Sr. Project Planner/Scheduler Jeffrey Slade. The program begins at 10:15 a.m., and students will be treated to lunch.
Jackie Robinson Day
Sunday, April 15 at 1:10 p.m.; Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks
On Sunday, the team will give away a Jackie Robinson replica No. 42 jersey presented by Bank of America to the first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance at the Dodgers' 1:10 p.m. game against the D-backs. Sunday's pregame ceremonies will include current and former Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars, while students from Robinson's high school, John Muir High School, will attend the game as part of the club's Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball initiative and students from Robinson's elementary school, Cleveland Elementary School in Pasadena, will participate in Kids Take the Field presented by 99 Cents Only Stores.
As has been tradition each April 15, the Dodgers and MLB will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day with all players and on-field personnel wearing Jackie's iconic Number '42.' For 2018, there will be additional on-field uniform elements, including a commemorative patch on all team caps and jersey sleeves, socks emblazoned with '42,' and a brand new lightweight hooded fleece for batting practice and dugout wear, also featuring the '42' logo.
Tickets are still available for Sunday's game at Dodgers.com/Promotions, and fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 12:45 p.m. for special pregame ceremonies.
Reading Event at View Park Charter Elementary School
Yesterday, the Dodgers held a reading day at View Park Preparatory Charter Elementary School in South Los Angeles, where Dodger Alumni Dennis Powell and Al Downing talked with students about Jackie Robinson's legacy and how he affected their careers. Powell and Downing also read I am Jackie Robinson by Brad Meltzer to students.