Major League Baseball is commemorating Jackie Robinson Day on Sunday, April 15, 2012 with a League-wide 65th anniversary recognition. The Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson br0ke the game’s color barrier in 1947. To highlight this special occasion, all players and on-field personnel will once again wear Number 42.
“It gives us great pride to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Jack’s barrier-breaking accomplishments. This anniversary serves as a reminder of Jack’s enduring legacy and the profound impact he had on America. It is my hope that this commemoration serves as an inspiration to all as we look to unite behind our common goals,” Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s wife and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation said.
The Foundation, established in 1973, provides four-year college scholarships, graduate school grants and extensive mentoring to a diverse group of academically distinguished students with leadership potential.
To honor Jackie Robinson Day, MLB Network will highlight the day’s celebrations throughout its signature studio show MLB Tonight, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, MLB Network will re-air MLB Productions’ 2011 special Letters from Jackie: The Private Thoughts of Jackie Robinson on Sunday, April 15th at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The program focuses on Robinson’s role in the American Civil Rights movement, predominantly after he retired from baseball.
Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees center fielder, and Dennis Haysbert is the narrator. The story is told in Robinson’s own words, through correspondence he maintained during his lifetime with political figures including Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, and a young pen pal named Ron Rabinovitz, with whom Robinson kept in touch from 1955 to his death in 1972.
MLB Network will also air MLB Productions’ Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues on Monday, April 16th at 11:00 a.m. ET. The documentary, narrated by Hall of Famer and Negro Leagues advocate Dave Winfield, traces the history of African Americans in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball, culminating with Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947.
