MLB legend Jackie Robinson’s statue stolen from Kansas Park found destroyed on 105th birthday anniversary
The stolen statue of Jackie Robinson has now been found vandalized and burnt to pieces.
Jackie Robinson’s statue (Image via The Athletic)
In a shocking incident, the statue of MLB great Jackie Robinson was stolen from the Kansas Park. The piece was later discovered but in a miserable shape. The statue was found destroyed and burnt by the police.
This was found on what turned out to be Robinson’s 105th birth anniversary. The legendary athlete is considered one of the greats of the game and has been credited for shaping the sport and breaking color barriers in the major league.
As per reports from ABC KAKE News, two men were caught destroying the statue and cutting it off from the legs and loading the statue in a truck on security cameras. After investigation, the police found the piece in an unsalvageable condition.
The statue of Robinson was placed in front of the McAdams Park in Wichita. It was installed in 2021, honoring the baseball great while also paying honor to League 42, a local youth baseball organization. So far no arrests have been made in this case.
MLB and clubs to replace vandalized statue of Jackie Robinson
After the shocking news of Jackie Robinson’s statue being vandalized, the fans are in deep shock. In a warm gesture, the MLB and the 30 clubs will now lend their hand in helping to replace the vandalized statue.
Jackie Robinson (Image via ABC News)
This was confirmed by Bob Lutz, the executive director of League 42. A GoFundMe page has already been started where donations have started to pour in. As per reports, a total of $156,000 has been raised so far, showcasing the love of fans towards Robinson.
Lutz also informed that the new statue of Robinson will be made using the original mold used for the first one.
It will be a joyous occasion - unlike today, unlike the past five days
Bob Lutz on building Jackie Robinson’s new statue as per MLB.com.
On the instance of his 105th birth anniversary, the MLB once again paid their tributes to him and honored him. In a post shared on X, they called him “A man who changed everything“. The league also shared some images of him, celebrating the life of the late great.
Robinson made his debut in 1947 while appearing for the Brooklyn Dodgers (now Los Angeles Dodgers). He made instant impact on the league and won the Rookie of the Year that season. Two seasons later, he was named the NL MVP.
He may not have some crazy stats compared to the other greats of the game, however, the impact of him is ever lasting on the sport. He was the first black skinned player to appear in the MLB and thus broke a color barrier and became an icon.
Robinson was inducted in the baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Since then his ‘Number 42‘ has been retired by every team in the league. Every year on April 15, the MLB remembers him while celebrating the Jackie Robinson day, an event where every player dons the his number on their back in his memory.
