‘Symbol Of Hope’: Jackie Robinson Statue Safe At Home In League 42 Field

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”— Jackie Robinson

By Barry Janoff

August 6, 2024: The on-gong saga involving a stature of Jackie Robinson and League 42 has reached a Hollywood-style happy ending, and shown how much of an impact he has had on others.

The original statue of Robinson, who in 1947 broke MLB’s color barrier when he played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers and went on to become an advocate for equal rights, this past January was found cut off at the ankles at its location in Wichita, Kansas’ McAdams Park, home to some 600 youth baseball players.

The theft drew national attention and financial support, including $100,000 from MLB and $195,000 via a GoFundMe campaign

The money was used to build the new statue and also for improvements at McAdams Park.

Last evening, a replacement using the original mold was unveiled.

“People tell me they can’t believe the silver lining that has come from this, and they’re right,” League 42 founder Bob Lutz said during the unveiling ceremony. “It has been an incredible, positive, joyful experience.

“We can get bogged down in the bad and the negative and there's so many reasons for that. But when people actually come together, then we're a pretty good society.”

“Today is a great day — a great day for healing, a great day for resilience,” Tony Reagins, MLB’s chief baseball development officer, said at the ceremony.

“We know that out of darkness comes light, and we’re able to bear witness to that,” Bob Kendrick, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president, said during the unveiling.

“That statue had become a symbol: a symbol of hope, a symbol of inspiration, of the core values that were part of Jackie’s legacy. Those were fixtures here in the ballpark,”

The theft, originally thought to be a hate crime, turned out to be the undertaking of thieves seeking to cash in on the bronze from the figure.

Earlier this month, Ricky Alderete was sentenced to 15 years in prison for three different cases, including 18 months (and financial restitution) for the Robinson statue theft, according to local authorities.

According to League 42, the McAdams Park fields have been improved with such items as backstops, dugouts, fencing and scoreboards. An unused mechanic’s garage across the street was refurbished as an indoor practice facility.

The destination also includes the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which opened in 2023.

League 42 was founded in July 2013 “to fill a void so that Wichita’s urban children could have an opportunity to play baseball without the exorbitant costs of playing in organized or even recreational leagues.”

It was named in honor of Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers,

Lutz’ friend, artist John Parsons (now deceased), created the statue and kept the original mold, which was used for the six-foot bronze replacement.

What remained of the original statue was donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

“Definitely feeling the calm after the storm today,” Lutz posted to the League 42 blog after the ceremony. “And what a beautiful storm it was to unveil League 42’s Jackie Robinson statue at historic McAdams Park on Monday.

“Such a great event, so many great people in attendance. And our kids, man. They are what this is all about and they are always remarkable. Thanks to everyone who made all of this happen and who supports our mission.”

Photos: League 42

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