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Phillies To Salute Jackie Robinson Tonight At Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- One of the most significant moments in Major League Baseball history is when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947. The Phillies will pay tribute to this milestone and celebrate the 68th anniversary of the occasion with a "Jackie Robinson Salute" at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, April 21, before and during the 7:05 p.m. game against the Miami Marlins.

A special on-field tribute starts at 6:40 p.m., where the Phillies will salute African-American pioneers who opened doors for others.

PHILLIES JACKIE ROBINSON SALUTE

 

  • All fans will receive a #42 commemorative pin.
  • Second baseman Mahlon Duckett, the only surviving player from the historic Philadelphia Stars, will be honored on the field. The Philadelphia Stars was in existence from 1934 to 1952 and won the 1934 Negro National League pennant. Phillies players' Ryan Howard, Ben Revere and Jerome Williams will also participate in the tribute.
  • Members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who made history at the same time Jackie Robinson broke the "color line" in Major League Baseball, will be the honor guard for the game.
  • A life-size, hand-carved and painted wooden statue of Jackie Robinson will be on display in the Left Field Plaza of Ashburn Alley for fans to take photos. The statue, which weighs over 250 pounds and stands over 6 feet tall, was created by sculptor Brian Birrer and took over 900 hours to transform from over 50 pieces of Walnut, Pine and Basswood. Birrer, from Northern, NJ, will also be in attendance.
  • The national anthem will be sung by Sister Cities GirlChoir.  Also, fans are invited to watch the Phillies' video tribute to Jackie Robinson, which will be played on PhanaVision.
  • A Phillies Jackie Robinson Scholarship presentation will be made to Demetrius Isaac, a freshman at Chestnut Hill College and RBI All-Star baseball player. Also, Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Recognition of Irene Atkins, a Jackie Robinson "Extra Innings" Graduate Fellow who is pursuing a Master's of Science in Education degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Special Introduction: Michael Handley, grandson of Lee Handley who was a player on the Phillies 1947 team who reached out to Jackie Robinson.
  • Paintings of Jackie Robinson and General Benjamin Davis, Jr. of the Tuskegee Airmen by local artist Sylvia Castellanos will be on display on the Hall of Fame Club level. The artist will also be available to meet with fans.

 

For more information, please visit phillies.com.

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