Jackie Robinson (statue)
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The statue of Jackie Robinson in
Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Journal Square at the entrance to the Journal Square Transportation Center.


Statue

The work was conceived by
Susan Wagner Susan Lynne Wagner (born 1961) is an American financial executive. Wagner is one of the co-founders of BlackRock, an American multinational investment management corporation, and served there in the capacities of vice chairman and chief operat ...
and was dedicated on February 26, 1998. The statue depicts
Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line ...
with both arms outstretched, his catching hand gloved. It is tall, and consists of quarter inch thick bronze, of bronze reinforced with of stainless steel armature and mounting plate. The inscription on the plaque at its foot uses the name Jack Roosevelt Robinson (1919 - 1972) and quotes the player himself: "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” The work was commissioned the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and installed in partnership with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the City of Jersey City, the New Jersey Sports History Commission, and others.


Significance

On April 18, 1946 — opening day of the
International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
season — Robinson, the 26-year-old second baseman, took the field for the Montreal Royals against the Jersey City Giants, a Class AAA affiliate of the
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
, thus becoming the first African American player to break the baseball color line in the modern era of segregated professional baseball. The game took place at Jersey City's since-demolished Roosevelt Stadium (
Droyer's Point Droyer's Point is a section of Jersey City, New Jersey at Newark Bay that was the site of the Jersey City Airport and later of Roosevelt Stadium, both of which were demolished. It has become a residential and commercial district. Geography In the ...
at the foot of Danforth Avenue at Route 440). The Giants sold 52,000 tickets (more than double the stadium's capacity of 23,000). Robinson was heckled mercilessly during his first plate appearance, but went on to have four hits including a 3-run homer, with 4 RBI, 4 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in Montreal's 14–1 win. A year later, Robinson would again break the color line when he debuted with the Major League Baseball's
Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
on April 15, 1947.


See also

*''
A Handshake for the Century A statue of Jackie Robinson and George Shuba known as ''A Handshake for the Century'' was unveiled in Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning Coun ...
'' * List of public art in Jersey City, New Jersey


References


External links


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* * * {{Jackie Robinson Cultural depictions of Jackie Robinson Culture of Jersey City, New Jersey Outdoor sculptures in New Jersey Monuments and memorials in New Jersey 1998 sculptures Buildings and structures in Jersey City, New Jersey Tourist attractions in Jersey City, New Jersey Statues in New Jersey Sculptures of men in New Jersey 1998 establishments in New Jersey Public art in Jersey City, New Jersey African-American history of New Jersey