MLB Details Activation For Jackie Robinson 75th Anniversary MLB Debut Celebrations

By Barry Janoff

UPDATED April 14, 2022: Candy Digital, a division of Fanatics and the official NFT partner for MLB, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation have released the Jackie Robinson Collection to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier.

The first NFT collection (pictured below) developed for Jackie Robinson will feature multiple NFTs that “honor him for his courage and many contributions to society,” with 100% of the net proceeds from sales of the collection on Candy Digital’s primary marketplace to be donated by Candy Digital to the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

The Players Alliance, a nonprofit started by active and retired professional baseball players, unveiled commitments by players, coaches and staff to donate their game-day salary in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. The donations will help the charity launch new programs across the country.

MLB players Lorenzo Cain, Jason Heyward, Aaron Hicks, Mike Moustakas and David Price are among those who've pledged to donate their full or partial game-day salary.

In addition, an auction of Jackie Robinson memorabilia has started via Goldin Auctions, including game-used items.

UPDATED April 13, 2022: MLB said today that the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers (April 15, 1947) would include baseball legends and celebrations at iconic locations across New York City.
 
Among those scheduled to attend events on April 15 are Ken Griffey Jr., Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Joe Torre, Willie Randolph and Sonya Pankey (eldest grandchild of Jackie and Rachel Robinson and a MLB consultant).
 
Activities to honor Robinson’s legacy Include youth “Play Ball” activation in Times Square, Empire State Building lighting ceremony (the Empire State Building will shine its -famous tower lights in blue and white with a rotating “42” on display that evening) and a street renaming at the corner of 42nd St. & Broadway.

April 4, 2022: When MLB commemorates the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier on April 15, all players, managers and on-field personnel will again wear Robinson’s No. 42, a tradition for more than ten years.

But this year, each No. 42 will feature the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers blue, regardless of each teams’ primary colors, and a special 75th Anniversary patch will appear on each jersey.

Those are just two of numerous platforms MLB unveiled today as part of its activation to honor Robinson.

MLB retired Robinson’s No. 42 number throughout the Majors in 1997, 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.

MLB has produced an exclusive video tribute, “Play, Run, Win, Rise,” written by Eljon Wardally and narrated by actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr.

MLB said the video ”reflects on Jackie’s legacy as a Hall of Fame and trailblazing player, social justice advocate, civil rights icon and pioneer in business and broadcasting."

The video also highlights the influence Robinson’s wife, Rachel Robinson. has had on their family’s legacy, particularly through the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

“Play, Run, Win, Rise” will air in all MLB ballparks on Jackie Robinson Day and will run on MLB Network, MLB.com and MLB Social Media.

In association with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, hundreds of mayors nationwide and Puerto Rico will participate in a social media campaign to “Tip Their Caps” to Jackie Robinson on April 15.

That morning, MLB will honor Robinson in New York’s Times Square, with an assortment of public displays.

Among the companies honoring Robinson who are connected to MLB and/or Robinson himself, Nike this month will release a Jackie Robinson Nike Dunk low shoe in Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers blue.

It features a 75th Anniversary logo on the tongue, a “42” on the heel and insole and text on each shoe from a famous Robinson quote: “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

In association with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Chock full o'Nuts coffee has released three sizes of limited-edition Jackie Robinson Chock full o'Nuts coffee cans in stores and online, hitting retail this month, with a portion of the proceeds from each purchase being donated to the JRF.

When Robinson retired from baseball,William Black, founder of Chock full o'Nuts, signed him as an executive at the New York-based coffee company. where he served as vp-personnel from 1957 until 1964.

ESPN today began a special project to honor Robinson’s lasting legacy, “Jackie to Me,” which will also “showcase the continued work of Robinson’s wife Rachel as she approaches her 100th birthday (July 19).”

The season-long project will initially encompass a ten-plus part short story video series, with a video to premiere each day, culminating with the final debut on the 75th anniversary on April 15.

The United States Mint recently opened sales for the 2022 Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Coin Program.

The program commemorates the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro National League, with the U.S.  Mint producing $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half dollar clad coins as part of the program.

A Jackie Robinson silver medal carries the same design as the Jackie Robinson Congressional Gold Medal produced by the Mint in 2003, which “honored Robinson as a baseball great, civil rights leader, and political activist.”

In 1945, Robinson played his only season in black baseball as a shortstop with the Kansas City Monarchs.

Money raised after the cost of making the coins will go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, located in Kansas City, MO.

Vignettes on Robinson’s influence on baseball and society are being produced daily by MLB Network.

Sports icons, including the late Henry Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., the late Tony Gwynn, Bill Russell and Vin Scully all speak to Robinson’s impact throughout the series.

In new interviews, President Bill Clinton, MLB commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig, Spike Lee and former NFL and MLB all-star Bo Jackson will discuss Jackie Robinson’s profound legacy on baseball and society in a MLB Network feature premiering on April 15.

Numerous MLB teams playing at home on April 15 will have special activation and tributes to Robinson, lead by the Dodgers and the New York Mets.

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.  

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.

MLB's special logo created for the Diamond Anniversary includes Robinson’s digital signature and shows an illustration of Robinson at-bat.

“Seventy-five years ago, Jackie Robinson took the field under incredibly challenging circumstances and unimaginable pressure,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said via the league. “Yet through his courage, character, skill, and values, he brought well-needed change to our game and advanced the Civil Rights Movement in our country,

“During this special anniversary year, it is a top priority for MLB to honor Jackie’s contributions and legacy, recognize the impact Rachel has made through the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and continue to keep Jackie’s memory and values alive for today’s generation of players and fans.”

“Our family is thrilled to see the many wonderful tributes to Jack’s historic moment 75 years ago,” Rachel Robinson said via the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

“We will continue to honor his memory and legacy through our work with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. We are proud to have Major League Baseball and so many others as supporters of the young men and women we impact each year.”

Jackie Robinson’s 75th Anniversary MLB Debut Gets National Activation

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