Dodgers, Local Schools to Honor Jackie Robinson Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers and John Muir High School will join Major League Baseball in celebrating the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier on Friday, April 15.

Members of the Robinson family will be joining the celebration including Jackie’s wife, Rachel Robinson, and his son, David. Together, the club will celebrate Jackie’s legacy not only at Dodger Stadium, but throughout the day with unique events at places that were incredibly meaningful to Jackie.

The Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will begin the morning in Pasadena, where Jackie Robinson grew up.

Dodger pitcher David Pricewill be joined by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Players Alliance founders, Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, and the Robinson family at Longfellow Elementary School to launch a Jackie Robinson Reading Series, part of LA Reads presented by the Water Buffalo Club. All 575 students will witness David Robinson read “I Am Jackie Robinson” by Brad Melter and will receive a copy of the book.

All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts will join the Robinson family at Jackie’s alma mater, John Muir High School, for a special unveiling in honor of their famous alumnus.

Robinson attended John Muir in the 1930s and excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball. The permanent project will highlight Jackie throughout various stages of his life in Southern California and beyond, keeping the Hall of Famer front and center for future generations of students to be inspired.

All youth participating in the Pasadena events will receive a special edition Jackie Robinson baseball cap.

Prior to the gates opening that evening, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts, Dodger players and Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars will be joined by the Robinson family for an intimate discussion about Jackie and the Robinson family legacy at the Jackie Robinson statue in the Centerfield Plaza.

A very special evening has been planned at Dodger Stadium when the team takes on the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m.

The first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance will receive a one-of-a-kind No. 42 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers road grey jersey, presented by UCLA Health, and commemorating the 75th anniversary with a special patch. Robinson starred at UCLA from 1939-40 and became the first Bruin to earn a Varsity letter in four sports: track, basketball, baseball, and football.

The Dodgers will invite 75 special guests onto the field during pregame ceremonies. The guests will include 42 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars and Alumni and 33 students from John Muir High School. To date, the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation have supported 70 JRF scholars and donated more than $3.5 million. Charles Jones will perform the National Anthem.

Players, managers, coaches, umpires, and all on-field personnel will wear Robinson’s iconic number during the game, which also includes a ‘42’ logo patch on the Nike uniform sleeves and the New Era caps. MLB will donate all licensed royalties from the sales of caps to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. In addition, for the first time ever, all MLB uniforms will feature a Dodger Blue No. ’42,’ regardless of their team colors.