The Reds joined Major League Baseball in celebrating Jackie Robinson Day with several days’ worth of activities honoring the groundbreaking and legendary player.
Every year on April 15, MLB honors the Brooklyn Dodgers trailblazer at ballparks across the league with a day full of ceremonies and tributes to commemorate Robinson’s legacy. The Reds recognized Robinson all week with events and activities throughout Cincinnati.
Last Wednesday, the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy hosted the second annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic, featuring a baseball game between Wilberforce University and Kentucky State University. Players from both teams wore replica Negro Leagues jerseys and received custom baseball cleats from Nike.
Through a partnership with the Reds, Wilberforce brought baseball back to the university in 2022 after an 80-year hiatus. The team is coached by Roosevelt Barnes, a Wilberforce alumnus who led the Reds' senior RBI baseball team to the program’s first RBI World Series championship in 2021. Wilberforce took on a Kentucky State team that had the privilege of participating in last season’s inaugural Classic.
Kentucky State beat Wilberforce in a 19-18 slugfest.
“For me, as a historian of the game and a former history teacher, an event like this is so important, because every year we get further removed from men like Jackie Robinson and Joe Morgan, so it’s important to recognize their efforts,” Kentucky State head coach Rob Henry said. “For our guys to be a small part of this is a phenomenal experience, we truly appreciate it.”
On Friday, Reds pitcher Hunter Greene surprised a group of Taft High School baseball and softball players with a special visit. Greene addressed 16 student-athletes about the importance of Jackie Robinson in his life and his journey to the Major Leagues, while also fielding questions, posing for photos and signing autographs.
“Not only was he an amazing baseball player and athlete, but he was able to leave a true legacy behind,” Greene said of Robinson. “Something that I live by through him is always being inclusive. No matter what a person’s background is, where they come from, their financial status or whatever the case is, being inclusive is about always being somebody that’s able to make someone else feel at home and welcomed as much you can. That’s something that Mr. Robinson was able to do and that’s my biggest takeaway from him.”
Over the weekend, the Skyline Chili Reds Futures High School Showcase, presented by Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics, celebrated Jackie Robinson Day with an eight-game slate Saturday and Sunday. Saturday featured five baseball games, which included nine Cincinnati Public Schools, while Sunday featured a softball tripleheader. Players on all teams wore No. 42 jerseys provided by Nike.
At Great American Ball Park, the Reds celebrated Robinson’s life, values and accomplishments before and during their Saturday victory over the Phillies. All players, managers and coaches wore Nike "Dodger Blue No. 42" jerseys to honor the 76th anniversary of Robinson’s historic debut. Additional uniform accessories included No. 42 batting-practice T-shirts, cap patches and socks.
“To see everyone wearing number 42 on their jerseys is really special,” Greene said. “It’s 2023 and everybody is still representing Mr. Robinson. To see the legacy he’s left behind for everybody -- players from all over the world of different backgrounds will be wearing his jersey -- it’s extremely powerful.”
Fans in attendance received a Jackie Robinson Baseball Card. During pregame festivities, Chuck Harmon, Jr. served as the honorary captain of the game. Chuck Jr. is the son of Chuck Harmon, who became the first African American player for the Reds in 1954. Members of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio’s 29th Class of Glorifying the Lions were also recognized during pregame ceremonies. And during the game, the ballpark aired Jackie Robinson Day messaging and featured special graphics on the videoboards.
