D-backs to celebrate life of Jackie Robinson this Tuesday
D-backs become first to host Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Traveling Exhibit "They Were All-Stars"
PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) will celebrate the life of Jackie Robinson with a series of events on Tuesday, April 15 when the D-backs host the New York Mets at 6:40 PM. The homestand, which begins tonight, will be highlighted by a first-time Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Travel Exhibit, "They Were All-Stars."
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, based out of Kansas City, Mo., will have two traveling exhibits on display throughout the entire homestand for fans to tour in the Upper Right Field Deck. It will be the first time the "They Were All-Stars" exhibit has been displayed in a ballpark and only the second time in three years that the "Times, Teams and Talent" has been displayed in a ballpark. Both exhibits tell the story of Negro Leagues history and highlight the 20 players who began their baseball careers in the Negro Leagues, moved to play in the Major Leagues after integration, and were voted or selected to play in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game during their careers.
On Tuesday, April 15, the D-backs will recognize an Arizona Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar, Lucia Carbajal, and the MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Branch Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Edreyse Sharkey during a special pregame ceremony. In addition, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will contribute $4,200 to both the Jackie Robinson Foundation and MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Branch Boys & Girls Club. Several Jackie Robinson and other Negro League All-Star baseball cards from Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick's "Diamondbacks Collection" will also be on display next to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum traveling exhibits in the Upper Right Field Deck throughout the game for fans to take photos.
Earlier this week, Major League Baseball and Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced three preliminary priority initiatives that will guide the On-Field Diversity Task Force to address the talent pipeline that impacts the representation and development of diverse players and on-field personnel in Major League Baseball, particularly African-Americans. D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall currently serves on the Task Force that includes a wide-ranging group of representatives from throughout the game of baseball. The On-Field Diversity Task Force focuses on the myriad of issues influencing on-field diversity at all levels of baseball.
Tickets for the D-backs' Jackie Robinson Day celebration on April 15 are available at the Chase Field Box Office, by phone at 602.514.8400 or online at dbacks.com/tickets.