Hens welcome George Shuba

The famous photo of Jackie Robinson crossing home plate and shaking the hand of George Shuba will be re-enacted at Fifth Third Field on Sunday, September 3, when the Hens take on the Columbus Clippers.

The handshake re-enactment will occur at 5:45 p.m. before the game.

The historic photo was taken in Robinson's first Minor League game on April 18, 1946 when both players were members of the Montreal Royals. The picture, known as the "Handshake that Bridged Barriers," is regarded as changing professional sports forever and the first interracial handshake in North American baseball history. Shuba will be at Fifth Third Field and will participate in the re-enactment. The 81-year-old Shuba will also sign autographs for fans during the game.

Dennis Hubbard III, 6, will be playing Robinson in the re-enactment and will shake the hand of another young man acting as Shuba, after running the bases, and crossing home plate. Hubbard will also shake the hand of the real George Shuba as well. Both young men will be dressed in replica jerseys of the Montreal Royals.

Shuba is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and played at the Major League level for seven seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily as a utility infielder, and he won a World Series championship in 1955.