Padres pay tribute to Jackie Robinson

April 16th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres had 50 youngsters from the San Diego Jackie Robinson YMCA line up along the first-base during the pregame ceremony as part of the Jackie Robinson Day celebration before Friday's game at Petco Park.
Kareem Jones, a member of the Jackie Robinson YMCA, threw out the first pitch. Each child was presented with a No. 42 jersey in various versions of Padres uniforms.
:: Jackie Robinson Day coverage ::
The Padres have one of their Jr. RBI baseball and softball programs for kids ages 5-12, at the Jackie Robinson YMCA.
Among the major leaguers in the video honoring Robinson was the Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones, a San Diego native.
Friday marked the 69th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier, which Major League Baseball now celebrates annually as Jackie Robinson Day.
Teams across the league honored the Hall of Famer, who died in 1972 at the age of 53, by holding pregame ceremonies, welcoming special guests and important community figures and raising money for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
On top of that, all uniformed personnel throughout the Major Leagues wore Robinson's retired No. 42 jersey, as they do each April 15.