Dodgers honor Jackie with high school field
The Dodgers have dedicated a newly renovated baseball field to the high school where Jackie Robinson starred on the field and in the classroom.
The $260,000 project at John Muir High School in Pasadena, Calif., was unveiled on Wednesday and was made possible by the Dodgers, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, Nick English, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.
"The Dodgers are proud to restore Jackie Robinson's home baseball field as a monument to be remembered and utilized by future generations of this community," Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said. "Jackie has greatly impacted Los Angeles, Major League Baseball and the country. We hope this field will bring local awareness to his legacy and inspire students to never set limitations on their future."
The baseball field got a facelift with new side and outfield fencing, new foul poles and a blue windscreen and yellow top cap in the outfield. Backstop and dugout fencing were repaired, new metal dugout roofs were installed, the entire field was re-graded, new sod and infield mix were put in and the irrigation system was upgraded. A bullpen was also installed, along with new bases, a new LED scoreboard and signage.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation oversaw reconstruction of the field.
"I am thrilled that the Dodgers have joined other community leaders to provide a wonderful facility for young student-athletes at John Muir High School," said Rachel Robinson, wife of Jackie Robinson and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. "I know Jack would be proud that our beloved Dodgers are supporting his high school alma mater."
Robinson's niece, Kathy Robinson Young, attended a brief program on Wednesday on the field to commemorate the dedication.
Dodgers alumni Ken Landreaux, Derrel Thomas, Dennis Powell and Tommy Davis led a clinic for the John Muir High School baseball and softball teams following the program.
The Dodgers also dedicated a framed vintage portrait image of Jackie Robinson in his Dodger uniform taken in the 1950s. Muir's athletic department will display the image inside the foyer of their gymnasium.
Next month, the Dodgers will host 80 Muir student-athletes on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15) for a special gameday experience as part of the Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball program.