Historic Dodgertown is pleased to announce that the Third Annual Jackie Robinson Celebration Game will take place on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. at iconic Holman Stadium. The game features the Florida State League’s St. Lucie Mets and the Brevard County Manatees for this regular season contest. (Brevard Manatees image)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Historic Dodgertown is pleased to announce that the Third Annual Jackie Robinson Celebration Game will take place on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. at iconic Holman Stadium.
The game features the Florida State League’s St. Lucie Mets and the Brevard County Manatees for this regular season contest.
“We are extremely proud to honor Jackie’s memory and what he achieved for the nation,” Historic Dodgertown chairman Peter O’Malley said.
“Jackie spent nine Spring Trainings (1948-56) at Dodgertown, Vero Beach and the Dodgers advanced to the World Series five times in those years.”
April 15, 2016 will mark the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson making his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, as he broke the color barrier in 1947 to become the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.
The following spring in 1948, Dodgertown became the first and only integrated Spring Training site in the south.
Chuck Murphy
“The Florida State League is proud to have the Jackie Robinson Celebration Game for the second year at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach,” Florida State League president Chuck Murphy said.
“We hope to continue this tradition in honoring Jackie Robinson for years to come.”
The inaugural Jackie Robinson Celebration Game was played on April 15, 2014 and saw the Brevard County Manatees defeat the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 7-1, in front of 4,019 fans. Ticket sales for the 2014 game saw over $18,000 generated for the United Way of Indian River County.
Pat O’Conner
“Jackie Robinson Day honors a man who was instrumental in the integration of baseball, and it is also a day for all people to come together in unity,” Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner said.
“Minor League Baseball is proud to be part of this annual celebration of a baseball icon as the St. Lucie Mets and the Brevard County Manatees face off to benefit a worthy cause, the United Way of Indian River County.”
All tickets will be general admission and will be sold for $5 each.
The net proceeds from all ticket sales will again go to benefit the United Way of Indian River County.
Michael Kint
“United Way of Indian River County is proud and grateful to participate in the Jackie Robinson Celebration Game at Historic Dodgertown,” CEO of the United Way of Indian River County Michael Kint said.
“As an organization that has the welfare of this community at heart, we’ve worked hard to keep this very special event affordable for families and individuals at $5 a ticket.”
“Proceeds from this game will help us do our job of providing people with access to a good education, financial stability and quality health care. We are already looking forward to April 15.”
