Nationals to Join Dodgers in Pregame Reflection on Jackie Robinson Day

The Dodgers will join the rest of Major League Baseball in marking Monday’s 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color line. They will gather with the Washington Nationals at the statue of Robinson in Dodger Stadium’s Centerfield Plaza to discuss his continued influence on the sport.

Robinson moved to Pasadena with his family in 1920. He 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.

Robinson’s granddaughter Ayo Robinson, sociologist and civil rights activist Harry Edwards and Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars are also set to attend what the Dodgers call a “team reflection.”

Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, 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 manager Dave Roberts talk about Robinson, but last season was the first time they were joined by their opponent.

The spark for the joint gathering was a request by the Chicago Cubs’ social media team to attend the ceremony. 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.

Jason Heyward, then in his first season as a Dodgers outfielder after playing the previous seven seasons with the Cubs, spoke at the gathering.

“I just can never stop imagining what Jackie had to go on a daily basis when he had it continuously thrown in his face that he was different,” Heyward said. “He made no excuses and wanted to get this mission done.”

On Monday morning, the Dodgers will release 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 will also be played during pregame ceremonies which will honor Robinson’s life and legacy.

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

All players and other on-field personnel will wear 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 will wear 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 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.