Jackie Robinson Day 2024: How Sports World is Honoring MLB Icon

The legendary Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier when he first played for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and the league and sports world now honor his contributions on that day every year.

This year's Jackie Robinson Day brings a crowded MLB slate with 15 total games on Monday's schedule.

But the league didn't wait until the first pitches of those games to honor his legacy:

Jackie Robinson Day also coincided with Patriots' Day in Boston and Massachusetts this year, which is celebrated on the third Monday of April. It is the day of the Boston Marathon, and the Boston Red Sox also play an early game on Patriots' Day every year.

This year's game was against the Cleveland Guardians, and the Red Sox honored Robinson even while recognizing their own city and the Patriots' Day traditions:

Red Sox and Guardians players wore Robinson's No. 42, which players across the league will do when their games begin. MLB retired his jersey in 1997, which was the 50th anniversary of his debut, but it is brought back on an annual basis for today's celebration.

Of note, the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners will start their game on Monday at 6:42 p.m. PT.

Yet Cole Jacobson of MLB.com noted this year's festivities "go far beyond what the players on the field happen to be wearing" and will include the following events and activities:

• A video titled "Pasadena Fields" that honors Robinson will play on scoreboards.
• An MLB-hosted volunteer event at the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York will happen Monday that will donate gift boxes and food to foster care children.
• MLB and USA Baseball will host the 2024 Trailblazer Series this weekend at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, for girls who are 13 years and younger to play baseball. Robinson's grandchild, Sonya Pankey, will speak.

Teams and players across the league also highlighted Robinson's impact on the game:

In addition to breaking MLB's color barrier, Robinson was a legendary player on the field.

He played 10 seasons for the Dodgers and amassed a resume that included a World Series title, a league MVP, a Rookie of the Year, a batting title and seven All-Star selections. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1962 as both an excellent player and one of the most important figures in the history of sports.