Jackie Robinson Day ’24: Nationwide Activation To Honor His Life And Legacy

By Barry Janoff

April 13, 2024: In one of the most revered days on its calendar, MLB teams will again unite on April 15 to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, who in 1947 broke the game’s color barrier with the then Brooklyn Dodgers.

MLB, in coordination with the Robinson Family, MLB clubs, the Baseball Hall of Fame and various partners, will activate with a variety of efforts across the league, including multi-media marketing, educational programs, neighborhood projects and in-stadium plans.

MLB retired Robinson’s No. 42 throughout the Majors in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier, dedicated April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day annually in 2004, and since 2009 has requested that every player and all on-field personnel wear his No. 42 during games scheduled on Jackie Robinson Day.

Players, coaches, managers, and umpires will have New Era caps with a “42” side patch. Nike “Breaking Barriers” T-shirts also will be worn during batting practice.

Commemorative base jewels and lineup cards will be used for each game.

Stance socks with a commemorative “42” logo, as well as Jackie Robinson products, will be available for purchase at retail.

A special tribute video, “Pasadena Fields,” will be shown in all ballparks on Jackie Robinson Day. The video will also play across MLB media, including MLB.com, MLB social platforms and MLB.tv.

The tribute offers, “Pasadena Fields: where dreams soared, the legend of Jackie Robinson was forged.”

Born in Cairo, Ga., Robinson was raised in Pasadena, Calif., where he was four-sport student athlete at Pasadena Junior College and then UCLA.

On April 15, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY — into which Robinson was inducted in 1962 — team captains will draft teams for The Hall of Fame East-West Classic: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Game— a legends game taking place at Doubleday Field scheduled for May 25.

The draft will air live during MLB Network’s MLB Tonight: Clubhouse Edition during the Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros telecast

MLB will host a volunteer event at the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York in collaboration with Foster Love.

Volunteers, including MLB central office employees, will assemble superhero gift boxes and sweet cases that will be donated that afternoon to children at a local foster care agency.

During Jackie Robinson weekend, the Museum has been hosting special programs and airing such films as The Jackie Robinson Story (1950, starring Robinson himself), 42 (2013) and Jackie Robinson: Get To The Bag (2022).

MLB Network and MLB.com will highlight Jackie Robinson related programming and content throughout Jackie Robinson Day.

MLB.com and all 30 club sites will have extensive editorial content and coverage highlighting each team's special connection with Robinson, as well as special features that “explore his impact as a baseball pioneer and his influence over today's players.”

MLB social media platforms in both English and Spanish will “demonstrate the many ways Jackie inspired baseball and society — not just as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, but most importantly, his character and what he represented before, during and after his career.”

Highlights include custom illustrations, collages, classic Jackie Robinson highlights and infographics.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will host multiple events throughout Los Angeles to celebrate the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

The Dodgers and Dodgers Foundation will host a youth baseball and softball clinic at UCLA in Jackie Robinson Stadium. 

At the game vs. the Washington Nationals in Dodger Stadidum, the Dodgers will have a Jackie Robinson baseball cap promo presented by UCLA Health.

The Dodgers will be joined by the Nationals as they host their annual team meeting at the Jackie Robinson statue in the Center Field Plaza (unveiled on April 15, 2017) “as the teams reflect on Robinson’s continued impact on today’s game.”

The New York Mets will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day in Citi Field with their second-annual Black Legacy Game, honoring former Black players and Jackie Robinson.

Prior to hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates, festivities also include special appearances by the Robinson Family.

David Robinson, Jackie’s son, is planned to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Rachel Robinson (pictured), Jackie’s wife, now 101, is scheduled to be in attendance.

Since becoming MLB’s official bank and credit card partner in 2022, and establishing the Capital One Walk-Off (game-winning play) program, Capital One said it has committed more than a million dollars to the Jackie Robinson Foundation in support of its programs.

Capital One is again supporting  the Jackie Robinson Foundation and donating $1,000 for each “Capital One Walk-Off” this year, committing to a total donation of $250,000 for the season.

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