Details for the Commemoration of Jackie Robinson Day in 2024

Major League Baseball, in coordination with the Robinson Family, MLB Clubs and various partners, has announced Baseball’s efforts to celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson through the MLB Together platform (www.MLBTogether.com) on Jackie Robinson Day – Monday, April 15^th.

IN BALLPARK

NUMBER ‘42’ IN DODGER BLUE – As is tradition, players, managers and coaches will once again wear Robinson’s iconic number on April 15^th, with all teams using Dodger blue “42” jersey numbers (regardless of their primary team colors).

• Additionally, 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 commemorative “42” logo, as well as Jackie Robinson products available for purchase at retail.

“PASADENA FIELDS” TRIBUTE VIDEO – A special tribute video, titled “Pasadena Fields,” will be shown in all ballparks on Jackie Robinson Day. The video also will be played extensively on MLB.com, MLB Social Platforms, MLB.tv and more. The video can be viewed HERE.

In the spirit of the pillars of MLB Together, below are different ways Jackie Robinson Day will be commemorated throughout Major League Baseball:

VOLUNTEERISM

• On April 15^th, MLB will host a volunteer event at the Jackie Robinson Museum in collaboration with Foster Love. Volunteers, comprised of 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. By building awareness and volunteer opportunities, Foster Love hopes to better the lives of children in foster care and provide them with a sense of normalcy and comfort through a turbulent time in their lives.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

• JRF SCHOLARS – MLB and the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) have continued their longstanding partnership, primarily to provide students from under-represented communities with college scholarships. Many of the current JRF Scholars, as well as JRF Scholars alumni, will be recognized by Clubs. MLB and JRF have partnered on MLB and Club internships, full-time job opportunities, and exposure to MLB careers. MLB has also set aside summer internship slots specifically for JRF Scholars. Historically, MLB and its Clubs have contributed approximately $20 million to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, including supporting college scholarships for more than 150 JRF scholars.

• TRAILBLAZER SERIES – This weekend at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., MLB and USA Baseball will host the 2024 Trailblazer Series. This annual youth baseball experience for young women, ages 13 and under from across the country, is a three-day event serving as both instructional and developmental. The event has been held in conjunction with Jackie Robinson Day since it launched in 2017. Sonya Pankey, the first grandchild of Jackie and Rachel Robinson, once again will attend to observe and speak to the young athletes.

• A special PLAY BALL event will be held at the JRTC on Saturday, April 13^th in celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, featuring hundreds of children from throughout Indian River County, Florida.

• MLB ID TOUR – MLB is continuing its 18-city MLB ID Tour with the goal of discovering the best athletes within diverse and under-served communities across the country to invite them to future baseball development programs, such as the Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series or Hank Aaron Invitational, many of which will be held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. The MLB ID Tour event during Jackie Robinson Day weekend will take place Saturday, April 13^th in Charlotte, NC and Sunday, April 14^th in Anderson, SC.

EDUCATION

• For The Kids – Printable education activities aimed at providing kids information on Jackie’s life and legacy will be found at MLBTogether.com/42. This includes fun activities such as word scramble, word search and coloring pages.
• Nike RBI Day at Jackie Robinson Museum – Participants of local Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) programs and their families will have an opportunity to visit the Jackie Robinson Museum in NYC on Saturday, April 13^th and learn about Robinson’s legacy in fun ways with JRF and MLB staff.

MLB CLUB & PARTNER ACTIVATIONS

MLB CLUBS – See separate attachment for Club Activations (with more to be announced leading up to April 15^th)

CAPITAL ONE – Since becoming the Official Bank and Credit Card Partner of Major League Baseball in 2022, and establishing the Capital One Walk-Off program, Capital One has committed over a million dollars to the Jackie Robinson Foundation in support of its programs. Once again, Capital One is supporting JRF and donating $1,000 for each “Capital One Walk-Off” (game-winning play) this year, committing to a total donation of $250,000 for the season.

GAMING – Major League Baseball’s award-winning video game franchise MLB The Show will continue to support the legacy of Jackie Robinson through its "Storylines: Negro Leagues Season 2" storytelling content. Sony Interactive Entertainment and San Diego Studio will once again sell a Jackie Robinson Foundation Pack that will support the JRF/MLB The Show Scholars program, supported by PlayStation Career Pathways Program, to help reduce the achievement gap in higher education.

MULTIMEDIA & BROADCAST

MLB NETWORK & MLB.com – 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 Jackie, as well as special features that explore his impact as a baseball pioneer and his influence over today's players.

SOCIAL MEDIA – 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.

JACKIE ROBINSON DAY BACKGROUND

Robinson played his first Major League game at Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947 as a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Major League Baseball has celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy in an extensive and unified League-wide show of support over the years, including retiring his number throughout the Majors in 1997, dedicating April 15^th as Jackie Robinson Day each year since 2004, and requesting that every player and all on-field personnel wear his Number 42 during games scheduled on Jackie Robinson Day since 2009. Major League Baseball aims to educate all fans about Jackie Robinson, his life’s accomplishments and legacy, while spearheading initiatives that support communities and meaningfully address diversity and inclusion at all levels of our sport. For more information, please visit MLBTogether.com.

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Contact: Steve Arocho or Aby Goodman, Major League Baseball, (212) 931-7800, mlbpressbox.com, @MLB_PR.

JACKIE ROBINSON DAY 2024 – CLUB ACTIVATION EXAMPLES

Atlanta Braves

• The Atlanta Braves will commemorate Jackie Robinson Day at Truist Park on April 19 as the team takes on the Texas Rangers. In honor of the day, the Braves will host 55 children and chaperones from the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club in Cairo, Georgia, the birthplace of Robinson, for a special day of celebration and activities at Truist Park. Before the game, the kids of the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club will enjoy carnival games, a rock wall and zip line inside Truist Park at the Hope and Will’s Sandlot. As part of the Braves’ Jackie Robinson Day pregame ceremony, Ella Elbeck, the Atlanta Braves and MLB Jackie Robinson Scholar, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the club members will stand in line with Braves players during the National Anthem. Additionally, the Atlanta Braves Foundation will make a charitable contribution to the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club, bolstering their ongoing mission to offer a secure after-school environment where children can connect, develop essential skills, and cultivate the confidence necessary for successful futures.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Jackie Robinson Day will be celebrated league-wide and the Diamondbacks special pregame ceremony will salute those in the community who are making a positive impact and carrying on the legacy of Jackie Robinson. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Choir will perform the National Anthem as well as the Black National Anthem. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Valley-native Raven Gibson, the founder of Legendary Rootz, a Phoenix business that sells apparel and gift items celebrating the Black community and was one of Target’s featured businesses for Black History Month. The team will recognize the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year as well as the East Valley United Black Firefighters, who focus on involvement and development in African-American communities, fostering promotion and advancement and promoting overall well-being. Fans with the special event ticket package will receive an exclusive hat featuring Robinson’s number “42.” Tickets: dbacks.com/jackierobinson

Baltimore Orioles

• In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the Orioles and Nike will host 150 youth baseball and softball players from the Jackie Robinson Baseball League at Monday’s game. Allison Alston, a senior at the University of Virginia and Baltimore’s Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in a custom No. 42 jersey, provided by Nike. The Orioles and Nike will also donate 12 copies of “Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson” to students at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School. The book, which was written by Robinson’s daughter, Sharon, talks about what it was like growing up with Robinson as her father and his career in Major League Baseball.
• The Orioles and Harlem Park Elementary Middle School recently announced a long-term partnership, in which the Orioles will use their platform to provide Harlem Park with various resources and opportunities, standing as a committed partner to positively impact West Baltimore students for years to come.

Boston Red Sox

• The Boston Red Sox will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day in pregame ceremonies preceding their traditional Patriots’ Day game at 11:10 a.m. on Monday, April 15. During the ceremonies, Jackie Robinson Scholars will be recognized on field, and Red Sox players will wear their home jerseys featuring “Boston” on the front, with ‘42’ in blue on the back to mark the 77^th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.
• Earlier this year, the club paid tribute to Jackie Robinson with a “Celebration of Life” on January 31, what would have been the 105^thbirthday for the Hall of Famer. Now in its 21^st year, the event included a visit from Red Sox Hall of Famer Tommy Harper and 2007 World Series Champion Manny Delcarmen with students at Tech Boston Academy to speak about Robinson’s impact on Major League Baseball and his connection to the Boston Red Sox. The event was also attended by Jackie Robinson Foundation Vice President of Community Engagements and Partnerships Ivo Philbert, Red Sox Vice President/Club Counsel and Red Sox Hall of Fame Inductee Elaine Steward, and Red Sox Foundation Executive Director Bekah Salwasser; both Steward and Salwasser are Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars.

Chicago Cubs

• The Chicago Cubs will celebrate the life and legacy of baseball legend Jackie Robinson at Wrigley Field Thursday, April 18. For Jackie Robinson Night, the Cubs will recognize The Support Group, a Chicago-based organization that inspires and educates underserved youth in Chicago with after-school programs, on the field pregame, as well as include both the Black national anthem and national anthem in the pregame festivities. JRF Scholars will sing the seventh-inning stretch.
• Cubs fans interested in attending the April 18 game are encouraged to purchase a ticket through the Jackie Robinson Night Special Ticket Offer which comes with a special-edition Jackie Robinson “42” hat. A portion of the proceeds from the Special Ticket Offer will be donated to The Support Group.

Chicago White Sox

• The White Sox will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day by honoring baseball’s trailblazers and empowering local youth as leaders in the classroom, on the field and beyond. The organization launched its eighth annual Jackie Robinson Student Contest, inviting students to submit a creative work that celebrates former Negro Leagues greats or Black baseball pioneers. Dozens of young artists found unique ways to spotlight unsung heroes who greatly contributed to the history and legacy of the sport. All contest participants received tickets for the game and an opportunity to participate in a pregame parade, while three grand prize winners will receive a VIP experience, including tickets to a suite and recognition during a special pregame ceremony. The White Sox also will welcome more than 250 players and family members from the organization’s Amateur City Elite (ACE) program, created to reverse the declining interest and participation in baseball among Black youth, and ten Little League teams served by the club’s RBI Jersey program to enjoy a pregame parade on the ballpark’s warning track. The ACE invitees, four of whom the Sox welcomed to a Negro Leagues Baseball Museum tour in Kansas City in early April, and the youth teams, including notable clubs like Jackie Robinson West and Rosemoor Little League, received a total of 1,300 game tickets for the evening. Chicago Bears offensive assistant coach Jennifer King will throw the game’s ceremonial first pitch. She is the first female coach in Bears history and the first full-time Black female coach in the NFL. Several 12U ACE players will take the field alongside the 2024 Sox lineup, as well as announce “play ball” to start the game. Additional resources and content surrounding Black baseball pioneers and the White Sox connection to the Negro Leagues is available at whitesox.com/negroleagues.

Cincinnati Reds

• The Reds will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 19 at Great American Ball Park (Reds vs. Angels) with pregame ceremonies and events in the Cincinnati community.

• Throwing out a ceremonial first pitch will be Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team head coach Jason Payne, one of the two Black head coaches of the ECHL. The Cyclones made history on March 30^th when Black players Landon Cato, Elijah Gonsalves, Jalen Smereck, Kyle Bollers, and Josh Burnside took the ice as the starting lineup.

• Members of the AACE LLC ownership group, Reds shareholders since 2005, will be recognized during pregame ceremonies. The AACE group was one of the first Black ownership groups in American sports history.

• Fans in attendance will receive a Jackie Robinson Baseball Card, presented by LifeCenter.

• In the community, the Reds have the following events planned:

• Reds players Hunter Greene, Will Benson and Bubba Thompson are scheduled to visit Cincinnati Public School’s Woodward High School on April 19 to speak to the baseball and softball teams about their journey to the major leagues.

• HBCU schools Wilberforce University and Kentucky State University are playing in the annual Joe Morgan Classic on April 17 at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy. Players from both teams will be wearing authentic replica Negro Leagues jerseys and will receive custom baseball cleats from Nike.

• The Skyline Chili Reds Futures High School Showcase presented by Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 13 & 14 by hosting Cincinnati Public Schools baseball and softball teams. In honor of Robinson, all baseball and softball players will wear “42” jerseys provided by Nike.

• In conjunction with Jackie Robinson Day, the Reds Country Cares initiative for April focuses on the message that “Reds Baseball Welcomes All” to highlight the Reds commitment to diversity, inclusion and disability awareness. More information on Jackie Robinson Day activities and how the Reds promote positive change and inclusiveness through Reds Country Cares and other initiatives is available at reds.com/Unity.

Cleveland Guardians

• The Guardians will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 19 at Progressive Field with pregame ceremonies and community events. Ahead of JRD, Germaine Harvey, who is a Jackie Robinson Scholar currently enrolled at Case Western Reserve University, will be throwing out a first pitch. National anthem will be performed by Michael Williams on Sax, an inspirational saxophonist who began playing as a church musician for the Family Baptist Church in Ohio. Jackie Robinson information and education will be incorporated into inning break scoreboard features like our jersey number challenge.

Detroit Tigers

• On Jackie Robinson Day, the Detroit Tigers will host 42 local baseball and softball players from two local high schools at Comerica Park for a “Breaking Barriers” educational panel. The panel will feature Tigers front office staff providing background on their careers and the path they took to become successful, focusing on Robinson’s nine core values (courage, determination, commitment, persistence, integrity, justice, teamwork, citizenship and excellence). Tigers Nike RBI baseball player Jordan Spencer will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Prior to the panel, attendees will also be invited to watch batting practice and are scheduled to meet with Tigers players, coaches and broadcasters.

Houston Astros

• The Astros Foundation distributed 100 copies of the book “I Never Had It Made” an autobiography written by Jackie Robinson to high school students from the Mickey Leland College Prep and students from the Astros Youth Academy. Those students wrote an essay on Jackie Robinson and are invited to the game on April 15 and a special pregame reception in his honor.
• During the Jackie Robinson Day pregame reception, held in the 42 Room at Minute Maid Park (a meeting space that celebrates the legacy of Jackie Robinson), the students will get a chance to hear from J.C. Hartman, Houston’s first Black major leaguer, who played for the Colt .45s from 1962-63. The students will also hear from Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars during this pregame reception and assistant GM Gavin Dickey. There will also be a celebration of J.C. Hartman’s 90^th birthday during the reception, which is April 15, 1934.
• In an on-field pregame ceremony in honor of Jackie Robinson Day, Hartman will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. A portion of the proceeds from LDI Homes Share2Care 50/50 raffle on Monday will go to the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Kansas City Royals

• In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the Kansas City Royals hosted close to 80 high school students on Thursday, April 11^th as part of Club 42. The students listened to a panel made up of front office staff before enjoying lunch and watching as the team took on the Houston Astros.
• For the remainder of the month the public can stop by the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy (KCUYA) to view a Jackie Robinson exhibit. The exhibit includes replicas of three jerseys Robinson wore during the early days of his baseball career - before he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 breaking the color barrier in the then-established Major Leagues. Jerseys include the 1945 Kansas City Monarchs, the 1945 Kansas City Royals, and the 1946 Montreal Royals.
• On Monday, April 15^th, the media is invited to sit and talk to Emmanuella Alawode, the Royals’ Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar who hopes to break barriers in the medical field. The now senior attends the University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC) and is set to throw out the first pitch on Friday, April 19^th.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will host multiple events throughout Los Angeles to celebrate the 77^th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

• On Thursday, April 11^th, students from Alma Fuerte Public School, located on the campus of Jackie Robinson’s elementary school, learned about the legacy of Jackie Robinson from Dodger historian Mark Langill. The 190 students grades TK-8 helped prepare care packages for troops in honor of Jackie’s military service.

• On Sunday, April 14^th, in partnership with Nike and the Los Angeles Dodgers, LADF will release a Dodgers Dreamteam Coaches Playbook, the first of its kind in the program’s history. This playbook will incorporate Jackie Robinson’s nine values and is a direct investment from the 2022 MLB All-Star Game Legacy. The playbook will expand the curriculum Dodgers Dreamteam coaches currently use, which focuses on providing the highest level of sport skill while also focusing on social and emotional development. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will join the group to unveil the new playbook and provide guidance on coaching skills.

• On Monday, April 15^th, the Dodgers and Dodgers Foundation will host a youth baseball and softball clinic at UCLA in Jackie Robinson Stadium.  Youth participants are coming from Dodgers Dreamteam, Orville Wright Middle School and Westchester High School. Attendees will participate in a baseball and softball clinic, in addition to a College & Career Panel that will include members of the Los Angeles Dodgers leadership team. 

• Also on the 15^th, the Dodgers will be joined by the Washington Nationals as they host their annual team meeting at the Jackie Robinson statue in the Center Field Plaza as the teams reflect on Robinson’s continued impact on today’s game.

• On Tuesday, April 16^th, in partnership with Mookie and Brianna Betts’ 5050 Foundation, LADF will host a ceremony to celebrate renovations and upgrades for John Muir’s baseball field. These renovations continue Jackie Robinson’s legacy at his alma mater in Pasadena and include a rebuilt pitcher’s mound and batter boxes, updated infield mix, updated fence signage, and updated scoreboard signage. Additionally, the dugouts are being updated, along with backstop padding, installation of a home plate halo, and an updated windscreen.

Los Angeles Angels

• The Angels Baseball Foundation is hosting their 4th annual “Angels JR42 Clinic, Presented by Nike” on Monday, April 15^th. Taking place on Jackie Robinson Day at the Anaheim Family YMCA Community Complex, the clinic will provide an outlet for children in Anaheim and the surrounding community to participate in a youth baseball and softball event to learn more about Jackie Robinson’s impact on the game and society. Approximately 75-100 pre-registered children, aged 6-12, will participate in a station-rotation event, learning skills such as: hitting, throwing, fielding, baserunning and the mental focus necessary to be an athlete and successful in life. Orange County Health Care Agency, an Angels partner, will provide games and activities at one of the stations to teach the kids teamwork, leadership and confidence, all skills shared by the clinic’s namesake, Jackie Robinson. Each child participant will receive an Angels hat and t-shirt.
• In addition, the Los Angeles Angels and the Anaheim Ducks hosted a screening of the documentary film “Beyond Their Years” on April 4^th for their staff members. The film depicts the lives of two Black athletes, Herb Carnegie playing hockey, and Buck O’Neil playing baseball. Although these two icons were excluded from playing at the highest professional level of their sport because of their race, the positive attitude they carried throughout their lives allowed them to overcome the hardships they faced. Through their involvement in the Future Aces (Carnegie) and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (O’Neil), they continued to inspire others long after their playing careers were over. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Angels Manager Ron Washington, Bernice Carnegie (Herb’s daughter), and the film’s producer Bryant McBride, as they discussed their own experiences and the importance of educating others by continuing to tell the story of these pioneers.
• On Saturday, April 6^th, the Angels welcomed former NHL player Willie O’Ree to Angel Stadium. O’Ree, the first Black player in the National Hockey League, is regarded as the “Jackie Robinson of hockey.” He was greeted by Angels Manager Ron Washington, Special Assistant to General Manager Torii Hunter, Outfielders Mike Trout and Jo Adell, as well as other players and staff members during batting practice. He shared his compelling story of breaking the NHL color line as a Boston Bruin on January 18, 1958.

Miami Marlins

• For the third consecutive year, the Marlins and loanDepot park hosted the Jackie Robinson Classic presented by Nike on Tuesday, April 9^th. The game, organized by the Miami Marlins Foundation, featured two predominantly black local high schools, Booker T. Washington & Boyd Anderson, providing them with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play a game at a Major League ballpark. On Wednesday, April 10^th, a member from the Jackie Robinson Museum in NYC hosted a Kahoot! trivia game on Zoom about the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson for Marlins employees.
• On Jackie Robinson Day, April 15^th, mentors and mentees from the Miami-based 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project will learn about the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, as part of a pregame event at the ballpark. 5000 Role Models is a dropout prevention, mentoring program committed to closing the minority male achievement (access) gap by guiding minority male students along a carefully charted path through grades K-12 and college or ensuring the attainment of other post-secondary credentials, and increasing their employability in higher wage, high skills jobs within high demand industries. The mentors and mentees will greet fans at the gates with signs featuring Jackie Robinson’s Nine Values. The mentees will line up between Marlins players during the National Anthem.
• Additionally, the Marlins will honor the organization’s 2023 Jackie Robinson Award winners with a special pre-game on-field ceremony. The honorees include one from Baseball Operations (Joe Caro, Special Assignment Scout) and one from Business Operations (Daniel Hernandez, Director of Facilities). They were selected by their colleagues for best demonstrating Jackie Robinson’s Nine Values not only as professionals, but as people too.A Jackie Robinson Foundation Legacy Scholar from the University of Miami (Nasir Grant) will throw out the first pitch.

Milwaukee Brewers

• The Milwaukee Brewers partnered with Sharp Literacy to launch the Jackie Robinson Art Contest encouraging Milwaukee Public School students to use their creativity and imagination to submit an original artistic expression that captures the spirit of one or more of Jackie Robinson’s values of citizenship, commitment, courage, determination, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence, and teamwork. On April 15, the top three artists will receive a fan pack filled with Brewers memorabilia, the book “Who Was Jackie Robinson” and on-field pre-game recognition with their artwork displayed on the scoreboard during the presentation. The 1^st place artist will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Minnesota Twins

• The Minnesota Twins will honor and celebrate Jackie Robinson’s enduring impact on our game and society across the club’s digital platforms, along with activations in the Twin Cities. Twins social platforms will share a video sponsored by Nike that features personal comments from centerfielder Byron Buxton, who reflects on Jackie’s legacy and how it has influenced his own journey. On Tuesday, April 16, Twins mascot T.C. and front office staff will visit a local elementary school as part of the club’s “Reading is Powerful” program – which promotes the fun of reading and shares life lessons through the telling of baseball-themed stories – to entertain and educate students on Jackie’s Nine Values. Additionally, Chelsey Falzone, the Twins’ Manager of Youth Engagement, will be assisting MLB and USA Baseball at the 2024 Trailblazer Series.

New York Mets

• The Mets will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 with their second-annual Black Legacy Game, honoring former Black players and Jackie Robinson throughout the day. Beginning at 5:45 p.m., the team will host a Black Legacy panel featuring world renown rappers and recording artists, DJ Webstar & Mims to discuss the impact of Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the world of rap – the panel will be attended by Queensboro College students. Pregame ceremonies begin at 6:45 p.m., with the Canaan Baptist Youth Choir singing the Black National Anthem and Renee Neufville from the R&B Group Zhane performing the National Anthem. Jackie Robinson Scholar’s, fourth-year Harvard university student, Olusola Babalola will throw out the Honorary first pitch. Pregame festivities also include special appearances by the Robinson Family. David Robinson, Jackie’s son, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, caught by Butch Huskey. Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s 101 year-old wife, will also be in attendance for the game and will be presented with flowers from Mookie Wilson and Manager Carlos Mendoza as well as a special video tribute. Additional recognition of former Mets and MLB Black players will continue throughout the game and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will be supporting the Jackie Robinson Foundation with their 50/50 raffle for the game.

Oakland Athletics

• The A's will commemorate Jackie Robinson Day at the Coliseum on April 15 as the team hosts the St. Louis Cardinals. In honor of the day, early arriving fans will receive a special Jackie Robinson T-shirt giveaway. Additionally, partial proceeds from all special event tickets purchased will benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship and leadership development programs.

Philadelphia Phillies

• The Phillies have several special happenings surrounding Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, April 15. Before that night's game against the Rockies, the club will officially unveil Pioneers in Pinstripes, a new area in the Hall of Fame Club at Citizens Bank Park created to honor the trailblazers of Phillies integration and racial/ethnic diversity, focusing mostly on the time from when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier to when Dick Allen became the Phillies’ first Black superstar. Pioneers in Pinstripes pays tribute to both the well- and lesser-known figures who helped pave the way for future generations of Black and other minority athletes on the Phillies and in the city, while also educating the public and serving as a home base for collections and research on the subject of Phillies integration. Taking part in the unveil will be Tazena Kennedy (daughter of John Kennedy, the first Black Phillies player), Terry Washington (son of pioneer Ted Washington - the first Black player signed by the Phillies), Ruben Amaro Jr. (whose dad, Ruben Amaro Sr., was part of the first wave of players of color in the 1960s), Willa Allen (widow of Phillies great Dick Allen), and alumni Gary Matthews and Milt Thompson. Family members of pioneers featured in the new area will also be recognized at the event. As part of the team's on-field tribute to Jackie Robinson, there will be a ceremonial first pitch by Gail Quarles, daughter of pioneer Hank Mason (who in 1955 was one of the first Black players to appear in games in the Phillies minor league system), who will be accompanied by Phillies Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer John Middleton. In addition, the on-field tribute will include the Phillies honoring their 2024 Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar Julian Fields-Jackson from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as their Phillies Charities grant recipient Rukudzo Taruwinga, also a Nike RBI softball player. A portion of that night’s 50/50 Phillies Charities Raffle will benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Earlier in the day, the Phillies will also be participating in a Jackie Robinson Day Celebration at the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Memorial Park, a free outdoor event honoring the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the Philadelphia Stars.

San Diego Padres

• The Padres continue to honor the legacy of Johnny Ritchey for his role as the “Jackie Robinson of the West Coast” for breaking the Pacific Coast League’s color barrier in 1948 while playing for the San Diego Padres. His debut came just one year after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier, with Ritchey playing the position of catcher for the Padres in 1948 and 1949. On Monday, April 8, the Padres presented 10 high school seniors with the Johnny Ritchey Scholarship award worth $10,000 each during the pregame ceremony. The Johnny Ritchey Scholarship is designed for students that have encountered and, more importantly, have overcome significant personal adversities in his or her life and have used these challenges to strengthen themselves in their pursuit of higher education. Follow the ceremony, the students took the field with Padres starters prior to the game. The next day on April 9, the Padres hosted the Breaking Barriers Forum on the Sycuan Stage in Gallagher Square at Petco Park prior to Tuesday’s game. Three hundred students attended the panel that featured three prominent females who have “broken barriers” in the world of professional sports.

Seattle Mariners

• The Mariners will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 with their game beginning at 6:42pm. Pregame festivities include a Ceremonial First Pitch thrown by Cassius Culpepper, Rainier Beach High School and Baseball Beyond Borders Nike RBI student-athlete and descendant of Jackie Robinson, and national anthem performance by Dr. Richard Hodges, Western Washington University Assistant Professor of Music. The club will also celebrate Hometown All-Star, Omari Salisbury (founder of Converge Media) for his work to create culturally relevant content across the Pacific Northwest for urban audiences, as well as recognize the Hometown Nine Fellow Class of 2028 as Honorary Mariners for the evening. The first 10,000 fans at T-Mobile Park that evening will receive a Ken Griffey Jr. “Home Run Robbery” bobblehead.

St. Louis Cardinals

• The St. Louis Cardinals will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, April 24. The festivities will include an honorary pitch ceremony featuring a local Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar. The team will also recognize CommunityAmerica for their support of both the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Cardinals Care, with a pregame check presentation ceremony. In partnership with Nike, Cardinals Care will recognize nonprofits who represent at least one of Jackie Robinson’s 9 Values. And the team will provide educational activities about Jackie Robinson for kids in Ford Plaza.

Tampa Bay Rays

• The Tampa Bay Rays will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, April 15 when they host the Los Angeles Angels. A special pregame presentation will highlight the five recipients of the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund’s fifth annual Racial Equity Grants. The program was launched in 2020 to build power in communities that have been historically overlooked because of systemic racism. The grants support organizations making an impact in the areas of housing, workforce development, health equity, criminal justice reform, education and youth development. This year’s recipients will each be given $20,000 and will be recognized on the field before the game and hosted in a suite with local community leaders: AMIKids, The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women, James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center, Sing Out and Read and Where Love Grows Inc.
• In addition, the Rays will host students from The Write Field Program, a Poynter Institute writing and mentoring program for African American and Hispanic students from middle and high schools in Pinellas County. The students will have the opportunity to interview local community leaders including State Champion Boys Basketball Coach Larry Murphy of Gibbs High School and Roosevelt ‘Bubba’ Swinton who was recognized by the City of St. Petersburg in January for his more than 50 years of service to youth baseball as a coach, mentor, scorekeeper, umpire and commissioner of the Wildwood Dodgers youth baseball club. The students’ stories written from the interviews will be published in the Tampa Bay Times. Dr. Alex Harris, CEO and Co-Founder of the Arts Conservatory for Teens, will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” National Football League wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a graduate of St. Petersburg’s Lakewood High School, will get the game started with the ceremonial first pitch.

Texas Rangers

• While the Rangers will be in Detroit on April 15, the club plans to have related programing at its Rangers MLB Youth Academy in Dallas next week. The Rangers Baseball Foundation will also make its annual contribution to the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Toronto Blue Jays

• The Blue Jays will honor the legacy of Jackie Robinson and his impact on sport and society with a Blue Jays “42” hat giveaway to fans, spoken word tribute produced by a local Toronto artist and musician that will run in-stadium and on social, and various activations throughout the ballpark including a memorabilia display from the Canadian Negro League and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. All of the team’s in-game “42” items (player jerseys/hats/socks, commemorative bases, lineup card) will be authenticated and auctioned with proceeds going to Jays Care Foundation educational programs for kids across Canada.

Washington Nationals

• While in Los Angeles on the 15^th, the Nationals will join the LA Dodgers in their annual team meeting at the Jackie Robinson statue in the Dodger Stadium’s Center Field Plaza to reflect on Robinson’s continued impact on today’s game.
• Closer to home in Washington D.C., Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals, are hosting a week of programming at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy to educate and inspire scholar athletes through Jackie Robinson’s legacy. The programming includes Jackie Robinson “character trait” jersey creation, viewing and discussion of the movie “42”, and baseball/softball activities themed around overcoming adversity.
• Additionally, the Nationals will be donating signed, game-worn apparel from the day, which will be auctioned off to fans by the team’s charitable arm. Proceeds will benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, supporting its mission is to help children, families, and communities thrive through sports-based youth development and access to healthy food.