Robinson Legacy Showcased On Replica Baseball Jersey Day

The pre-game ceremony honoring 20th century icon and alumnus Jackie Robinson and his accomplishments brought out Pasadena City College staff, students, administrators as well as members of the Robinson family prior to the Lancers’ game Tuesday against Irvine Valley College held at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. 

The Lancers went on to lose the non-conference game, 13-5, but the day itself was one that brought back the memories of the great Robinson, who played at Pasadena Junior College in 1937-39 before a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

PCC players and coaches wore replica jerseys of the 1938 PJC team, and it was announced that every season, the Lancers will don the gray flannel tops during February in celebration of Black History Month.

Among the participants in the JR ceremony were Kathy Robinson Young, the niece of Jackie Robinson. Her mother, Delano Robinson, the wife of Jackie’s older brother Mack, also attended as well as one of Kathy’s daughters. From PCC, Dr. Mark W. Rocha, superintendent-president, Dr. Robert Bell, vice president of instruction/student & learning services, and John Woods, athletic director, were involved in the pre-game festivities. Dr. Rocha talked about the Robinson legacy and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Robinson Young thanked PCC for holding the event in speaking to the crowd. Another special guest at the ceremony was 1967 Lancers alumnus Darrell Evans, who played on PCC’s last state champion baseball team and then embarked on a 21-year Major League Baseball career, hitting more than 400 home runs.

In the game, PCC scored all five of its runs in the seventh inning, breaking up a no-hitter to that point being thrown by Irvine Valley pitcher Jesus Meza. Manny Pantoja’s 3-run triple highlighted the frame.

The Lancers are off to a rough start to the 2012 season at 2-9. Second baseman Matt Chavez saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end. However, third baseman Sean Stone extended his personal hit streak to nine games and leads the team with a .390 batting average.