Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Pledges to Help Replace Stolen, Destroyed Jackie Robinson Statue in Wichita

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Sam Connon | Last updated 2/4/24

When local youth baseball program League 42 had its Jackie Robinson statue cut down at the ankles and stolen the night of Jan. 24, plenty of questions surrounded the situation in Wichita.

Who did it? Where had the statue gone? What would happen next?

One of those questions was answered Jan. 30, when the statue was found chopped up and burned beyond repair in trash can at a park across the city. Police believed they had impounded the truck seen leaving the scene on security cameras, but no arrests were made yet.

As for what the non-profit organization planned to do next, they decided to commission another statue of Robinson, who broke MLB's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

The original bronze statue reportedly cost $75,000, though, and the sculptor died in 2022. While major league contracts routinely climb into eight figures, the price tag, emotions and logistics were plenty daunting for League 42 and executive director Bob Lutz.

But Lutz received a lifeline last week in the form of formalized support from MLB itself.

How about this? Amazing, huh?

During this emotional week, we are proud to report some great news. @MLB, which has been in touch with @League42ICT from the moment this tragedy became public, has formalized their support for our youth.
— Bob Lutz (@boblutz) January 31, 2024

According to Lutz, the Commissioner's Office – as well as all 30 clubs – have committed funding towards the costs of replacing the statue of Robinson. They also plan to provide other means of support to League 42.

Lutz and administrative assistant Jaclyn Evans additionally opened up a GoFundMe for the replacement statue and the organization at large, and they have received $193,270 from nearly 4,000 donations in the past seven days alone.

League 42, which has been operating in Wichita since 2013, first unveiled its statue of Robinson in 2021.

Robinson racked up 1,563 hits, 141 home runs, 761 RBI and 200 stolen bases in his professional career, all while hitting .313 with an .887 OPS. He made six All-Star appearances and won a World Series, NL Rookie of the Year and NL MVP.

Last Wednesday would have been Robinson's 106th birthday. Black History Month started the next day.

Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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