A statue of the legendary Jackie Robinson, depicted holding a bat over his shoulder, has been replaced in bronze after being vandalized by thieves earlier this year in McAdams Park, Wichita, Kansas. The original sculpture was decapitated in January, leaving only Robinson’s cleats behind. The new statue will be unveiled on Monday, greeted by Little League players and former Major League Baseball All-Stars.
The newly erected statue is a duplicate of the original, with the mold still intact from the previous creation, dedicated in 2021 by artist John Parsons, a close friend of Bob Lutz, the executive director of League 42. The urban youth baseball league, named after Robinson’s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, serves around 600 children in the community and has garnered significant support following the theft.
Notable personalities from Major League Baseball, including former All-Stars CC Sabathia and Dellin Betances, are expected to attend the event at McAdams Park. The community rallied together, donating generously to fund the replacement statue and make improvements to the park’s plaza and facilities, thanks to the outpouring of support following the shocking theft.
After the original statue was stolen, firefighters discovered burnt remnants five days later. Ricky Alderete, who pleaded guilty to the theft, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $41,500 in restitution. Alderete attributed the crime to his fentanyl addiction, although most of his sentence is related to a separate burglary offense.
The original cleats left behind by the vandalized statue found a new home at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, honoring Robinson’s roots with the Kansas City Monarchs before breaking the racial barriers in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Jackie Robinson passed away in 1972, leaving behind a legacy not only as a sports icon but also as a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement.
