University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA to Honor Jackie Robinson with ?Throwback? Uniform
LOS ANGELES - On April 16, the UCLA Baseball team will wear a 40's era inspired ‘throwback’ jersey to honor Bruin legend, Jackie Robinson. As part of the Bruins’ Jackie Robinson Day celebration, UCLA has partnered with Adidas to create a jersey and hat, which resemble the ones Robinson wore while at UCLA, and an originally designed cleat, for the team to sport against the California Golden Bears on Thursday.
The cream colored jersey carries a navy blue Bruins script across the front and features a vintage 3/4 sleeve. The hat is also navy blue, overlaid with a stitched on classic Bruins ‘B’ logo in cream color. The hat is designed to have the look and feel of a classic hat from that era.
The specially designed cleat dons vintage UCLA script and logos throughout the outside of the shoe, along with an insole that features newspaper clippings from Robinson’s playing days. The shoe is predominately tan, with blue and gold accents to go along with a metallic bronze sole and studs.
Seventy-five years ago, Jackie Robinson claimed a place at UCLA. From 1939 to 1941, he starred in four sports. In football, Robinson played both offense and defense, returned punts, caught and threw passes, kicked extra points and in the process, earned honorable mention All-American accolades. In basketball, he twice led the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring. In track, he won the NCAA championship in the broad jump. And in baseball, he began his legendary journey as a highly-regarded shortstop for the Bruins.
Six years later, Jackie Robinson claimed a place in history. Wearing number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, on April 15, 1947, Robinson shattered the color barrier in Major League Baseball forever. Despite enduring racial abuse, jeers of fans and fellow players, death threats and profound harassment, he endured it all with grace and dignity - not to mention exceptional play - earning Rookie of the Year honors and a National League Most Valuable Player award in addition to helping the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series. A career .311 hitter, Robinson played in six World Series, six consecutive All-Star games was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 during his first year of eligibility.
Fighting tirelessly for civil rights and integration in professional sports long after his time on the diamond was over, Robinson perhaps best summed up his own legacy with a typically understated yet poignant quote – “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
Late last year, UCLA announced that the naming a series of recreation and athletics facilities in honor of Jackie Robinson. In an official naming ceremony on the Drake Stadium concourse, UCLA officials said 22 facilities will be named the Jackie Robinson Athletics and Recreation Complex. They include: Acosta Athletic Training Complex, Bruin Fitness Center, Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake Track & Field Stadium, Easton Stadium, Gifford Golf Practice Facility, Hitch Outdoor Basketball Courts, UCLA Intramural Playing Fields, Jackie Robinson Stadium, J.D. Morgan Athletics Center, John Wooden Center, Kinross Recreation Center, Los Angeles Tennis Center, UCLA Marina Aquatics Center, North Athletic Field, North Pool, Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion, South Pool, Spaulding Field, Spieker Aquatics Center, Student Activities Center, Sunset Canyon Recreation Center and Sycamore Tennis Courts.
In accordance with the naming of the recreation and athletics facilities in honor of Robinson, UCLA also retired the number 42 across all sports. The number will forever be recognized, and never be worn again.