On Monday, April 15, the Phillies will join Major League Baseball to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day at Citizens Bank Park with a special on-field celebration before that night’s game against the New York Mets.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Oscar and Grammy-Award winner Jamie Foxx, All-Star Andrew McCutchen and the entire Phillies roster will partake in on-field, pregame festivities to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s birth, as well as honor the enduring impact of Robinson’s legacy on baseball and American society.

Phillies Jackie Robinson Day Lineup

• JACKIE ROBINSON DAY & NUMBER ‘42’: Players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field personnel will wear Jackie Robinson’s iconic ‘42.’ Featured on the uniforms will be a commemorative sleeve patch, with a matching insignia on all on-field New Era caps. Plus, the Jackie Robinson Day logo will be included on base jewels and official dugout lineup cards.

• On-Field Ceremony Paying Tribute to African American Pioneers: At 6:30 p.m., fans are encouraged to be in their seats to join the Phillies as they host a pregame ceremony celebrating Jackie Robinson’s indelible mark on history, as well as African American pioneers.

• Commissioner Manfred will be taking part in the festivities. There will also be special ceremonial first pitches including the multi-talented actor, singer, and comedian Jamie Foxx, All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen, and 2019 RBI Phillies Charities Grant recipient Brandon Gibbs, a senior at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, who will be attending Delaware State University in the fall. Also being introduced on the field will be past RBI Phillies Charities Grant recipients.

• The national anthem and a powerful performance of "Oh Happy Day" will be sung by a joint choir from several African-American churches including St. Matthew’s Baptist Church, Berachah Baptist Church and Deliverance Evangelistic Church.

• Members of the Tuskegee Airmen (now in their nineties), who made history at the same time Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, will serve as the honor guard for the game.

• Also being recognized is the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Baseball Team, who will be honored with a special video tribute on PhanaVision. Family members of the Philadelphia Stars will also be attending that evening’s game.

• Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Madison Johnson and Saxon Bryant, both students at the University of Pennsylvania, will represent the Jackie Robinson Foundation on the field.

· Paying Tribute WITH ’42’ PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

• Main Concourse: Fans should be on the lookout for Jackie Robinson storyteller Ron Whittington, who will be roaming the concourse to share facts and stories about Robinson’s life. As fans enter the Left Field Gate, they will also be able to take photos with a lifelike, hand-carved wooden Jackie Robinson statue by sculptor Brian Birrer, along with the ‘42’ retired number on display near the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame.
• Hall of Fame Club: More photo opportunities include an amazing portrait of Phillies legend Dick Allen, which was presented at the 2018 Philadelphia Legacy Awards. On site will be the father-daughter portrait artists Beta Gibson and Charles Booker. In addition, paintings of Jackie Robinson and General Benjamin Davis, Jr., the first commander of the Tuskegee Airmen, will be on display. The paintings were created by local artist Sylvia Castellanos, who will be available to meet.
• CONNECTING YOUTH TO AFRICAN AMERICAN ROLE MODELS IN BASEBALL: At 5:30 p.m., the Phillies will host a special Jackie Robinson pregame panel discussion at the ballpark with youth from Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. The event will be moderated by Mahlene Duckett, daughter of Philadelphia Stars player Mahlon Duckett.
• CELEBRATING JACKIE ROBINSON AT THE PHILADELPHIA STARS MEMORIAL EVENT: At noon on Monday, fans are invited to attend a free outdoor event honoring Jackie Robinson and the Philadelphia Stars featuring guest speakers, food, giveaways and special appearances by the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies Ballgirls. The tribute will take place at the Philadelphia Stars Memorial, located at the intersection of Belmont and Parkside Avenues.

JACKIE ROBINSON DAY BACKGROUND

Robinson played his first Major League game at Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947, as a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Major League Baseball has celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy in an extensive and unified League-wide show of support over the years, including retiring his number throughout the Majors in 1997, dedicating April 15th as Jackie Robinson Day each year since 2004, and requesting that every player and all on-field personnel wear his Number 42 during games scheduled on Jackie Robinson Day since 2009. Major League Baseball aims to educate all fans about Jackie Robinson, his life’s accomplishments and his legacy. For more information, please visit MLBCommunity.org.