Syracuse Chiefs to host Jackie Robinson Day celebration
Jackie Robinson's original plaque from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will be on display at Alliance Bank Stadium during the 2:00pm game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Robinson was enshrined in Cooperstown in 1962, but his plaque made no mention of the fact that he broke baseball's color barrier in 1947. Robinson's plaque was re-cast in 2008 to include the text "Displayed tremendous courage and poise in 1947 when he integrated the modern major leagues in the face of intense adversity."
"While we celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson and his contributions to our national pastime every day in Cooperstown, each year, April 15 unites the baseball family as the anniversary of his major-league debut. We are honored to travel his original Hall of Fame plaque to Syracuse for this historic day, on the 65th anniversary of his historic effort, to share his impact on American culture with baseball fans throughout central New York," said Brad Horn, Senior Director of Communications and Education for the Hall of Fame.
The Chiefs will also be giving away commemorative postcards, featuring a photo of Robinson's current plaque, to the first 500 fans in attendance. This showcase and promotion will commemorate Jackie Robinson Day, a baseball-wide celebration honoring the day that Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut.
CNY Central News Anchor Jackie Robinson will be part of an on-field, pregame ceremony. She will be joined by Brad Horn, Senior Director of Communications and Education for the Hall of Fame, who will offer a few words about the historical significance of Jackie Robinson, his plaque and Jackie Robinson Day. In addition, Chiefs players and coaches will wear special Negro League themed jerseys and hats for the game.
"We are honored that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and CNY Central's Jackie Robinson will be part of our Jackie Robinson Day Celebration here at the ballpark," said Chiefs General Manager John Simone. "Jackie Robinson's contributions to the game of baseball and our society are well documented and this celebration is a key component of our efforts to deliver baseball to a more diverse audience."
Tickets for all Syracuse Chiefs home games, as well as the ten Scranton/Wilkes-Barr Yankees home games that will be played at Alliance Bank Stadium this season, are on sale now and can be purchased online at SyracuseChiefs.com, by calling 315-474-7833, or in person at the Chiefs ticket office. Full- and partial-season ticket plans are also available through each of the same three methods.