UCLA baseball unveils Jackie Robinson Day-themed uniforms – NBC Los Angeles
The UCLA baseball workforce unveiled its Jackie Robinson Day-themed uniforms Monday forward of the annual celebration honoring the previous Bruin and Brooklyn Dodgers legend.
The Bruins will put on the uniforms in 4 video games, beginning Tuesday after they play UC Santa Barbara and thru the workforce’s weekend sequence in opposition to Minnesota.
The reveal got here after the Bruins previously teased the uniforms on the workforce’s social media.
Sonya Pankey, Robinson’s eldest granddaughter and govt vp of name growth for The Jackie Robinson Estate, introduced the jerseys.
“(Robinson) showed extraordinary character under pressure,” Pankey stated. “(He) is a true visionary, an advocate for social justice, an aggressive change agent and not just a number on a jersey.”
Pankey stated that Robinson wasn’t solely a logo, however an elite athlete. She stated that he made a blueprint and set an instance for a way others can succeed.
“You guys are the future,” Pankey stated in entrance of the UCLA baseball workforce on the unveiling. “I hope you use his story as a guide for your future mission.”
Robinson, who lettered in 4 sports activities at UCLA, has been honored yearly on April 15 to commemorate the day he broke MLB’s shade barrier as its first Black participant in 1947.
All MLB gamers and on-field personnel who take the sphere on the date will put on Robinson’s No. 42 to rejoice his legacy.
Robinson enrolled at UCLA in 1939 when the varsity’s scholar inhabitants was lower than 1% Black, and there was no Black college.
He performed soccer, basketball and baseball and ran observe for the Bruins.
In 1947, Robinson earned MLB’s Rookie of the Year award whereas enjoying for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Two years later, he was named National League MVP.
He was on the Dodgers’ World Series-winning workforce in 1955.
Robinson was 53 years previous when he died on Oct. 24, 1972.
His legacy continues to be honored throughout baseball and at UCLA, the place the house baseball venue, Jackie Robinson Stadium on the Veterans Affairs’ West Los Angeles campus, is known as in his honor.
