Nationals Join Dodgers in Pregame Reflection on Pasadena’s Hometown Hero, Jackie Robinson

The Dodgers were joined by the Washington Nationals for a “team reflection” on Jackie Robinson on Monday as Major League Baseball marked the 77th anniversary of his breaking baseball’s color line.

Robinson grew up in Pasadena, attended John Muir Technical High School, where he began to showcase his athletic talents, and later Pasadena City College, where his athletic abilities truly shone.

His historic entry into Major League Baseball occurred on April 15, 1947, when he stepped onto Ebbets Field as a Brooklyn Dodger, officially ending the color barrier in baseball.

“We talk … with the Dodgers doing something that’s bigger than ourselves, living a life that’s more important than ourselves, and there’s no better person that exemplified that than Jackie Robinson,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said at the statue of Robinson in Dodger Stadium’s Centerfield Plaza.

“He had a big burden in his life to be a professional baseball player, but to take on all this negativity, this hate towards him, his wife, his kids, and still persevere.”

Robinson’s granddaughter Ayo Robinson, sociologist and civil rights activist Harry Edwards and Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars also attended the reflection.

Robinson’s widow, Rachel, founded the foundation in 1973, the year following her husband’s death at the age of 53. It provides four-year college scholarships to disadvantaged students of color.

The Dodgers have been gathering at the statue on Jackie Robinson Day annually since 2021, mainly to hear Roberts talk about Robinson. Last season was the first time team members were joined by their opponent for the gathering.

The spark for the joint gathering was a request by the Chicago Cubs’ social media team to attend the ceremony last year. The Dodgers then asked then- Cubs manager David Ross if he would like his team to join the Dodgers and he accepted.

Ross began his major league playing career with the Dodgers in 2002 and Roberts was among his teammates.

On Monday, the Dodgers released a special video project titled “Dear Rachel,” a series of recordings from influential people across sports, politics and the Dodgers organization about the impact Robinson has had on their lives.

It was also played during pregame ceremonies that honored Robinson’s life and legacy.

Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars made the announcement preceding every Dodger game at Dodger Stadium, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”

All players and other on-field personnel wore Robinson’s No. 42 for all of Monday’s major league games as they have done on each Jackie Robinson Day since 2009, with all teams using Dodger blue for their “42” jersey numbers regardless of their primary team colors for the third consecutive year.

All players, coaches, managers and umpires wore caps with a “42” side patch.

The No. 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s April 15, 1947, debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Robinson — who was raised in Pasadena and attended Muir High School, Pasadena City College and UCLA — went hitless in four at-bats in his major league debut, but scored what proved to be the winning run in Brooklyn’s 5-3 victory over the Boston Braves in front of a crowd announced at 25,623 at Ebbets Field.

Robinson played his entire major league career with Brooklyn, helping lead the Dodgers to six National League pennants during his 10 seasons, and, in 1955, their only World Series championship in Brooklyn.

Robinson’s successful integration of Major League Baseball is credited with helping change Americans’ attitudes toward Black players and being a catalyst toward later civil rights advances.

“Jackie Robinson paved the way for me,” Laker great Magic Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. “Without him breaking the color barrier in the MLB for the Brooklyn Dodgers, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to become a part owner of the Dodgers.

“I’m forever grateful and proud to be a part of an organization with a history of promoting advancement and equality.”