In appreciation for making the trip to Williamsport this summer for the unveiling of the final statue in the “Bases Loaded” project, Little League® International and its Board of Directors have made a financial donation to Rachel Robinson and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. In addition to the contribution, Little League officials joined Jason Fink, President/CEO of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, in presenting the Foundation with a replica of the statue of Jackie Robinson, Cy Young, and President George W. Bush that was unveiled in Williamsport in August.
The special presentation was made during a visit to the newly opened Jackie Robinson Museum as part of the annual fall meeting of the Little League International Board of Directors, which was hosted by Major League Baseball at their offices in New York City on November 10-11, 2022.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, our staff at Little League International and the millions of volunteers and players around the world, we’d like to thank Rachel Robinson for her support of our program and for her commitment to the youth across the nation. It was an honor to have her in the birthplace of Little League this August, and we are pleased to be able to now visit the Jackie Robinson Museum to make this special recognition,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Departing Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “For decades, Jackie Robinson’s legacy has helped inspire future generations of Little Leaguers on and off the field, and we are proud to support this foundation as it continues to provide children with opportunities and resources to make a better future for us all.”
Our Board of Directors visited the Jackie Robinson Museum today 🏛
During the visit we presented President of the foundation, @DellaBritton with a financial donation and a replica of the statue that was unveiled in @WmsptPA back in August. pic.twitter.com/Qcq5Z1j3r7
— Little League (@LittleLeague) November 10, 2022
The unveiling the final statue in the “Bases Loaded” project, which included a statue of Jackie Robinson, along with Cy Young and President George W. Bush, took place on Sunday, August 21, in downtown Williamsport as part of a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Little League Baseball® World Series. Joining Mrs. Robinson at the ceremony was President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush, Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr., and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
During the 1965 Little League Baseball World Series, Jackie Robinson made the trip to Williamsport as a broadcaster for the 19th playing of the event, joining Jim McKay on ABC to provide memorable insight to viewers tuning in from all over. Mr. Robinson also visited Williamsport in 1962, after being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier that summer. Today, Mr. Robinson’s retired number 42 remains on display within the World Series section (Fifth Inning) of the World of Little League® Museum.
Established in 1973 by Rachel Robinson to perpetuate the memory of her husband, the Jackie Robinson Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization that administers one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for talented college students. With the opening in 2022 of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City, JRF will educate and inspire the general public around the ideals embodied in the life of its namesake.