http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/04/15/2008-04-15_mets_unveil_designs_for_jackie_robinson_.html
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/dedicating-the-jackie-robinson-rotunda/
The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is part of the new ballpark Citi Field. The purpose is to honor the legacy and what Jackie Robinson did to not only to baseball, but also to the civil rights movement. The rotunda has famous quotes from Jackie as well pictures. Jackie Robinson had to overcome a lot in order to play baseball just because he was black.
Heres a quote from Rachel Robinson, "I'm speechless. Jack was actually a very humble man. Some of you who are baseball fans wouldn't believe that because you only saw him on the field arguing with umpires and trying to beat the other guys. But he was a very humble man. I think he would have been stunned by being acknowledged in this way and remembered in this way. It's so grand and so beautiful. And the rotunda is not just a physical space but it carries with it so many memories and so many messages."
Every year now on Jackie Robinson day, every player wears number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. The number 42, since it was Jackie Robinson's number on the dodgers (although 5 in the negro leagues), is retired by major league baseball, which means that no player may wear the number 42 anymore an any team.
Sharon (Jackie's daughter) said, "What the Rotunda means to me is the progress we've made in the past and how that's going to affect future generations. When fans and families and children walk through the Rotunda I hope they will reflect on not only what Jackie Robinson accomplished, but also think about themselves and think, 'What am I doing? How am I living my life? What am I doing in my community?' It's a place where I hope people will feel inspired."
At the rotunda there are pictures, quotes, video showing his career highlights, etc
Fred Wilpon is credited with coming up with the idea for the rotunda.
Govenor David A. Paterson said when talking about the memorial, "When Jackie Robinson took the number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers . . . he changed the course of America. Not just baseball. Baseball, our national pastime, was the catalyst for that [movement] that has made life a lot more possible for people like me to be governor for the state of New York."
http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spjackie1612656678apr15,0,213711.story
No comments:
Post a Comment