In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies gathered for a team reflection at the Robinson statue in centerfield plaza at Dodger Stadium.
Showtime Lakers center and six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the guest speaker for the team reflection. Abdul-Jabbar shared several anecdotes and personal experiences he had with Robinson.
“I think it’s so cool that Jackie Robinson wrote [Abdul-Jabbar] when he was a high school basketball player that said: You should come to UCLA,” said Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) CEO Nichol Whiteman. “The fact that he carries that story and so much of [Robinson’s] legacy with him, it’s amazing.”
Sonya Pankey and Ayo Robinson, two granddaughters of Jackie Robinson, were also in attendance.
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“Something that I try to live each day by is it’s not about you, it’s about it’s bigger than all of us and how we respect the game,” said Dodgers general manager Dave Roberts. “This is certainly a special day where [Robinson] broke the color barrier but this is something that we as people need to continue to be mindful of each day.”
Abdul-Jabbar was born two days after Robinson played his first major league baseball game and recalled listening to Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio in his youth.
After being named 1970 Rookie of the Year, he had a luncheon with the late NBA icon Bill Russell. During the luncheon, Abdul-Jabbar met Robinson for the first time.
“I can’t tell you how happy I was about that,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I still have the picture of the three of us sitting at my breakfast table … [Robinson] gave everything to the Dodgers in terms of his heart, his soul, and his body.”
Ayo, who was born after Robinson passed away, enjoyed seeing his impact through stories people have of him.
“I’m just so grateful to have always been born into a family where I always had role models of such standing,” Ayo said. “I get to hear how he touched someone in the past. [Abdul-Jabbar] talking about him being a little kid, listening to [Robinson’s] game on the radio … it brings a tear to my eye because the impact is still real and it’s still here.”
Abdul-Jabbar also noted how Robinson served in the military and how he and legendary coach John Wooden were the reasons why he chose to attend UCLA.
“It was a really neat perspective that not very many people have,” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said, “It was really cool hearing those stories and interactions. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall there.”
This year marks the 78th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. This is also the 28th anniversary of his no. 42 jersey being retired in the MLB.
“I think about what he did in his short life to really have this profound impact on society,” Sonya said. “I think that understanding what our impact can be on other people is the greatest honor we can have.”
The team reflection was done in partnership with the club and the LADF.
Recipients of the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) also participated in the team reflection. The students who benefit from the JRF represent several universities, including USC, Cal State Northridge, Xavier University, and Loyola University.
