SAN DIEGO – Today, the San Diego Padres announced they will be wearing their Pacific Coast League uniforms on April 17 to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of Johnny Ritchey breaking the professional baseball color barrier on the West Coast, as well as what would have been his 100^th birthday year.

The uniforms, which were worn by the 1948 PCL Padres, feature navy blue script over the chest outlined in red with piping along the neck, arms and buttons, while the navy blue hat highlights a red “S” for San Diego.  Following the April 17 contest, the game-used PCL jerseys will be signed by Padres players and auctioned off at www.Padres.com/Auctions, with proceeds benefiting the Padres’ Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program.  Limited commemorative PCL Padres merchandise will also be available to fans at the Padres New Era team store at Petco Park beginning this week.

“We are honored to celebrate Johnny Ritchey during this significant 75^th anniversary season,” said Padres CEO Erik Greupner. “Johnny was a San Diegan whose courage and bravery extended beyond breaking the color barrier to also serving his country during World War II.  By wearing our 1948 Pacific Coast League uniforms on Monday night, we will honor Johnny’s legacy and accomplishments, which are a great source of pride for the Padres organization.”

Ritchey, “the Jackie Robinson of the West Coast,” became the first African American player in the Pacific Coast League with his hometown Padres.  His debut came just one year after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Ritchey played for the Padres as a catcher in 1948 and 1949 and attended both San Diego High School and San Diego State University prior to joining the Army in World War II. 

Fans can join in the celebration by buying a Theme Game Package as part of the African American Heritage Celebration on April 17.  In community partnership with Young Black and In Business and other local organizations, a Theme Game package includes a commemorative 1948 PCL hat, a donation to a local community group, and a ticket to the Braves vs. Padres game.  For more information, visit www.Padres.com/ThemeGames.

The Padres also expanded the Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program this season in partnership with the Masons of California and Reality Changers of San Diego to provide 10 scholarship opportunities to deserving, and often underserved, high school seniors in San Diego County who have encountered and overcome significant personal adversity in pursuit of higher education.  The $10,000 scholarships will be distributed evenly over four years, and the 2023 winners will be honored in an on-field pregame ceremony at Petco Park on April 17.