UCLA Athletics Monday unveiled the baseball team’s Jackie Robinson Day-themed uniforms ahead of Major League Baseball’s annual tribute honoring the Dodgers legend.
Sonya Pankey, Jackie Robinson’s eldest granddaughter and executive vice president of brand development for the Jackie Robinson Estate, presented the jerseys.
UCLA teased the uniforms last month on social media, posting an early preview on X, before a more detailed look at the design was later shared by UNISWAG, a sports media outlet focused on uniforms and team branding.
The uniforms were developed in collaboration with Nike and will be worn by the Bruins in Tuesday’s game against UC Santa Barbara, followed by a three-game series against Minnesota starting Friday, all at Jackie Robinson Stadium on the Veterans Affairs’ West Los Angeles campus.
Jackie Robinson Day is observed April 15, commemorating the day in 1947 when Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as its first Black player. On that date each year, all Major League Baseball players, coaches and umpires wear Robinson’s No. 42.
Robinson was UCLA’s first athlete to letter in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. He was a standout running back on the football team and also competed in track and field, though he played just one season of varsity baseball.
After leaving UCLA, Robinson went on to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, earning Rookie of the Year honors that season and being named National League MVP in 1949. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility.
Robinson died Oct. 24, 1972, at age 53.