Dodgers Unveil Jackie Robinson Statue On Day Designated In His Honor

A statue of Jackie Robinson was unveiled Saturday at Dodger Stadium, and the image of him is “frozen in time stealing home.” The statue was presented on Jackie Robinson Day. Having the statue on the reserve level on the third-base side “was a prerequisite because that is the most trafficked entry at Dodger Stadium, and that gives as many fans as possible the chance to see it” (ESPN.com, 4/15). The sculpture by Branly Cadet “includes such iconic Jackie Robinson quotes as ‘A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.’” Robinson’s widow, Rachel, took a “place of honor during the statue dedication in the afternoon and receive a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd in the evening” (L.A. TIMES, 4/16).

Several articles this past weekend examined the dearth of African-American MLBers:

• The African-American talent pool remains a troubling problem for baseball.
• Braves hope to help young African-American players make it in majors.
• Yankees P CC Sabathia dismayed by declining number of African-Americans in MLB.
• WASHINGTON TIMES: Reviving baseball in African-American communities.