The UCLA baseball group 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 once they play UC Santa Barbara and thru the group’s weekend collection in opposition to Minnesota.
The reveal got here after the Bruins previously teased the uniforms on the group’s social media.
Sonya Pankey, Robinson’s eldest granddaughter and government vice chairman of brand name growth for The Jackie Robinson Estate, introduced the jerseys.
“(Robinson) showed extraordinary character under pressure,” Pankey mentioned. “(He) is a true visionary, an advocate for social justice, an aggressive change agent and not just a number on a jersey.”
Pankey mentioned that Robinson wasn’t solely an emblem, however an elite athlete. She mentioned that he made a blueprint and set an instance for a way others can succeed.
“You guys are the future,” Pankey mentioned in entrance of the UCLA baseball group 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 colour 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 college’s scholar inhabitants was lower than 1% Black, and there was no Black college.
He performed soccer, basketball and baseball and ran monitor 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 group in 1955.
Robinson was 53 years outdated when he died on Oct. 24, 1972.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 called in his honor.
