Royals host makeup of Jackie Robinson Day

Angels return to KC for rescheduled matchup from April 15

June 25th, 2018

KANSAS CITY -- Jackie Robinson Day was more than two months ago, but the celebration of the legendary figure at Kauffman Stadium was delayed until Monday.
The Royals' game against the Angels on April 15 was postponed due to severe cold, and it was rescheduled for Monday's shared off-day. As the teams took the field to settle a series Los Angeles led, 3-0, all on-field personnel wore No. 42 jerseys and special patches to commemorate the legacy of the late Dodgers icon.
That legacy is kept alive through this celebration, which serves as a persistent reminder of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.
"What he did is hard to comprehend," Royals skipper Ned Yost said back on April 15. "Nowadays, we play this game in a different era. Players today have a bit of an idea because it's a special day, but they have no idea what he went through. What he did was groundbreaking. What he did, in my opinion, is one of the most courageous things in sports."

Yost said this day alone may not be enough to truly represent Robinson's impact.
"To be able to honor him once a year on Jackie Robinson Day, I think, we should probably do it more than once [a year]," Yost said.
Robinson's legacy is rivaled by none in baseball, as shown by the game taking an entire day to pay respect to him.
In the eyes of Kansas City ace Danny Duffy, though, Robinson's impact extends far beyond the diamond.
"He's obviously a very important figure in baseball and, on a broader scale, in world history, especially American history," Duffy said. "He was a pioneer. A lot has changed since then, and there's a long way to go still. But his family should be very proud of him. I certainly am."
As has been tradition each April 15 since 2009, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day with all players and on-field personnel wearing Jackie's iconic number. For 2018, there were additional on-field uniform elements, including a commemorative patch on all team caps and jersey sleeves, socks emblazoned with "42," and a new lightweight hooded fleece for batting practice and dugout wear, also featuring the "42" logo. MLB will donate all proceeds from the sale of such items to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which is a public, nonprofit organization that perpetuates Robinson's legacy by giving a four-year scholarship in his name and providing leadership development for minority college students as well as through building the Jackie Robinson Museum.
The museum will commemorate the life of Jackie Robinson as an athlete, activist and icon, illuminating his long-lasting impact across society through state-of-the-art exhibits, precious artifacts, film and other media. The National Jackie Robinson Museum Legacy Campaign has raised more than $25 million, and the museum is set to open in 2019.