Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day

As we celebrate the 74th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s barrier-breaking milestone, we use this time to educate our community on his life, career, accomplishments, and values.

Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier on April 15, 1947. This significant moment in history heralded the end of segregation in Major League Baseball. Robinson's character and talent challenged the traditional foundation of segregation that had then influenced many other aspects of American life. Decades later, we pay homage to Robinson for his efforts toward equality and strive to emulate his values within our community.

Today, the Orioles join Major League Baseball in honoring Jackie Robinson’s legacy. During the game, players and coaches will wear his iconic ‘42’ on the backs of their jerseys. Game-used jerseys and caps will be autographed and authenticated to be auctioned off at Orioles.com/Auctions with proceeds benefitting the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The auction will run from Monday, April 19 to Sunday, April 25.

Additionally, during pregame workouts, players sported special t-shirts created in conjunction with The Players Alliance that pay tribute to Robinson.

The organization took to social media to show their appreciation for the baseball legend and civil rights advocate. Orioles’ outfielders, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart wrote letters to Robinson, thanking him for his contributions to the league.

As a member of The Players Alliance, Mullins also joined more than 100 Major League players in donating his game-day salary today, benefiting the Alliance’s 2021 Gear For Good equipment distribution program.

The Orioles have also created an engaging curriculum for students based on Jackie Robinson’s nine values: Courage, Determination, Teamwork, Persistence, Integrity, Citizenship, Justice, Commitment, and Excellence. The Summer Slugger Jackie Robinson Challenge encourages students to create an acronym of their values similar to those of Jackie Robinson using the letters of their first names. Summer Slugger is a fun, interactive, online course that uses the game of baseball to help kids ages 8 to 11 maintain their math and literacy skills during the summer months. Major League Baseball and EVERFI have teamed up to create a platform that keeps kids learning while they are out of school and avoid the “summer slide” that contributes to a long-term achievement gap. To register your child for Summer Slugger and to learn more about the program, please visit SummerSlugger.com/Orioles.

In addition to the Summer Slugger curriculum, Orioles branded educational activities aimed to provide students information on Jackie’s life and legacy will be available for students to print and complete. To access the Orioles’ Jackie Robinson Day activities, please visit Orioles.com/DigitalKidsCorner.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a multi-faceted experience designed to not only address the financial needs of minority students who aspire to attend college but also to guide them through the process of higher education. The Orioles are also proud to recognize a local Jackie Robinson Scholar, Chimmuanya Iheanyi-Igwe, a sophomore at the University of Michigan from Elkridge, Md., who threw out the virtual ceremonial first pitch prior to today’s game.

What is your focus in school?

I’m studying computer engineering. At Michigan, I’m a part of an engineering team that designs and builds affordable prosthetic arms for kids. I’m also a part of a biomedical team partnered with Michigan medicine, where I do research into VR/XR and surgical simulations. In addition, I serve as a mentor for the Women in Science and Engineering Program on campus. Outside of class, I like gardening, cooking, and playing the guitar.

How did you learn about the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship?

I found out about the Jackie Robinson Foundation during my senior year of high school, and soon as I got into Michigan, I loved that the Foundation had an emphasis on building and supporting personal relationships among its scholars, and that was exactly the type of community I wanted to have in college.

How does the scholarship help you achieve your goals?

The Jackie Robinson scholarship has helped alleviate the financial strain of my college costs, and allowed me to focus more on my academics, as well as exploring my interests. More importantly, it has allowed me to become a part of an incredible community where I have built personal relationships with other students across the country and networked with professionals in my field. I’ve also been provided with numerous professional and academic opportunities that have prepared me for success out of college.

Where do you see yourself after graduating?

After graduation, I plan to go to graduate school and get a master’s in Biomedical Engineering. Then hopefully go into research or product management within the biomedical/tech industry.

Why is Jackie Robinson important to you?

Jackie Robinson was an important figure who overcame barriers both on and off the field, with huge accomplishments that can still be felt today in baseball and the African American community. As a member of the Foundation, I am honored to be a part of his legacy and strive to live my life based on his values of courage, integrity, and compassion.

Do you have any favorite Orioles memories?

My best Oriole memory was the first game I ever attended at Camden Yards. I was in middle school and had met up with a few friends to see the game. It started pouring out of nowhere, but even with the rain, the energy was still amazing! The entire section was dancing and singing along to different fight songs. It remains till this day, one of the best baseball games I’ve been to!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I am extremely grateful for this scholarship, and to the Jackie Robinson Foundation for their continued support. I have made some incredible relationships through JRF, and without this scholarship, I would not have experienced all the amazing opportunities I continue to have at Michigan. So again, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!

To learn more about The Jackie Robinson Foundation, please visit jackierobinson.org.