“Time TV”
—
The League 42 youth baseball league revealed the statue of Robinson, who broke baseball’s coloration barrier in 1947, at an evening ceremony earlier than lots of of individuals, together with dozens of children, on the spot within the Wichita park from which the previous statue was taken.
League youth participant Marcus Jones paid tribute to the MLB Corridor of Famer, telling the group Robinson “put a spark in all of us.”
The dignitaries included former American League Cy Younger Award winner CC Sabathia, who in 2022 was named as a particular assistant to the commissioner partially to “promote fairness in baseball,” and 13-year MLB participant Jeremy Guthrie, who performed for 4 seasons with the Kansas Metropolis Royals.
“Somebody requested me earlier at this time what made me come right here at this time. And simply desirous about it, it was me wanting to indicate up. Jackie confirmed up each single day of his life in baseball and in his private life, each single day for us,” mentioned Sabathia, who is also on the board of the Gamers Alliance of professional baseball and softball gamers who advocate for fairness within the recreation. “I believed it was vital for me to indicate up right here at this time.”
The unique Robinson statue was stolen shortly after midnight January 25, police have mentioned. Firefighters responded days later to a name a few trash can blaze at one other park the place they discovered items of the statue after extinguishing the fireplace, based on authorities.
Monday’s unveiling of the brand new statue marked a second of therapeutic and resilience, mentioned Tony Reagins, MLB’s chief baseball improvement officer.
“Jackie’s legacy by way of all of those younger folks is alive and properly. Jackie’s 9 values are alive and properly, and we (in MLB) are thrilled to be part of this,” he mentioned.
A person who pleaded responsible to stealing the statue and different crimes was sentenced Friday to 18 months in jail and $41,500 in restitution for the theft, based on the Related Press. His actions stemmed from a fentanyl dependancy, he instructed a Kansas court docket.
Solely bronze sneakers remained after theft
The brand new statue depicts Robinson, who additionally performed one season within the Negro Leagues in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, with a bat on his proper shoulder. The primary statue was reduce on the ankles, and all that remained had been two bronze sneakers.
Jackie Robinson’s life in photos
A GoFundMe marketing campaign raised cash for the substitute statue. The unique mould was nonetheless viable, and a reproduction was made, the AP reported.
Donations helped fund the brand new statue, in addition to enhancements to the plaza the place it stands, the nonprofit’s amenities and its programming, League 42 Govt Director Bob Lutz, mentioned, based on the AP.
“I’m simply merely amazed by the assist we’ve gotten from so many since this heinous act occurred again in January,” Lutz mentioned at Monday’s ceremony.
About 600 youngsters play within the city youth baseball league that takes its identify for Robinson’s quantity with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson – who was the Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr in 1947 and its Most Useful Participant in 1949 – died in 1972.
“Time TV”’s Andy Rose contributed to this report.
