Mets Unveil Details Of Jackie Robinson Rotunda At Citi Field
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Mets Unveil Design For The Jackie
Robinson Rotunda At Citi Field |
The Mets and Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) yesterday unveiled details on the design of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field. The rotunda, 160 feet wide and 70 feet tall, will feature an eight-foot sculpture of Robinson's retired No. 42 jersey, images depicting the nine core values from Robinson's life that guide the foundation, and an inscription of the quote attributed to Robinson, which reads, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on others." The rotunda later will be joined by the Jackie Robinson Museum, which will be part of the foundation's Manhattan HQs. The foundation is roughly halfway through $25M of fundraising for that effort (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports the rotunda will serve as Citi Field's main gate and is "intended to honor the life of Robinson." The rotunda's brick archways pay "homage to the signature architectural feature of Ebbets Field," where Robinson broke MLB's color barrier in '47. Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson: "It's like walking into a cathedral in a way." The Mets' tribute to Robinson is "meant to be contemplative," as his values will "be illustrated with enormous photos from his life to be mounted in the upper reaches of the rotunda." JRF Chair Leonard Coleman said that the Mets and Citi Bank have contributed $1.5M each to the foundation's fundraising effort. In addition, the Yankees donated $1M and the Yawkey Foundation $3M (N.Y. TIMES, 4/16). Mets Owner Fred Wilpon: "I dreamed about this. And this is exactly how I dreamed about it. I call this home." MLB.com's Barry Bloom reported the Mets at a media conference yesterday offered an "animated 3-D video of what the Rotunda will ultimately look like, replete with escalators in the middle to the club and luxury box levels and stairways sweeping upward on each side" (MLB.com, 4/15).
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Mets One Of Nine Teams To Have
All Its Players Wear Robinson's No. 42 |
JACKIE ROBINSON DAY: In a separate piece, MLB.com's Bloom noted MLB yesterday held its annual observance of Jackie Robinson Day, the 61st anniversary of the day Robinson broke MLB's color barrier. MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy noted that 330 uniformed baseball personnel yesterday "took the field wearing No. 42," a day after MLB "committed $1.2[M] over four years in scholarships for" JRF. Each player on the Mets, Nationals, Dodgers, Cardinals, A's, Angels, Pirates, Rangers and Rays agreed to wear Robinson's number, which MLB Commissioner Bud Selig retired in '97. Additionally, MLB will sponsor a $10,000 scholarship for each of the 30 teams over the next four years. DuPuy represented Selig at the Jackie Robinson Day festivities at Shea Stadium before the Nationals-Mets game, and Rachel Robinson attended after touring the rotunda (MLB.com, 4/15). MLB.com's Tom Singer noted other observances for the day included Baseball HOFer Lou Brock catching a pair of ceremonial first pitches from JRF scholars before the Brewers-Cardinals game and Baseball HOFer Dave Winfield presenting a check from the Padres Foundation to support future JRF scholars in San Diego. Additionally, in Philadelphia, special recognition was given to the four surviving members of the Negro League's Philadelphia Stars who knew Robinson: P Harold Gould, 2B Mahlon Duckett, and Cs Bill Cash and Stanley Glenn (MLB.com, 4/15).
PLAYER REAX: Mets 3B David Wright: "No matter what kind of race, color, religion, or background you come from, I think everybody that puts on a Major League uniform -- or a baseball uniform, for that matter -- has a respect and a love for Jackie Robinson. So I think it's great that we get to show that appreciation. To be able to do it in New York, it makes it even more special." Giants 2B Ray Durham, who yesterday was chosen to be the "only one on his team to play in" the No. 42 jersey, said, "It is an honor to wear his number. He meant so much to a lot of players, not only black players. He's created opportunities for other players, not only our sport, but other sports too." Rangers P Joaquin Benoit, a native of the Dominican Republic, said, "This is why I'm here. No. 42. He broke that barrier" (MLB.com, 4/15).
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