Jackie Robinson Day 2026 Celebrated by Sports World with Tributes for MLB Icon

April 15 marks the annual celebration across Major League Baseball recognizing Jackie Robinson Day.

This year is the 79th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB's color barrier by becoming the first Black player to appear in a game when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 5-3 win over the Boston Braves on April 15, 1947.

Robinson's legacy was celebrated by MLB teams, the league and organizations highlighting his impact on sports and in the world.

As part of the celebration across MLB, all 30 teams will be wearing No. 42 jerseys and royal blue socks as part of their uniforms. The jersey number will also be styled in Dodger blue.

Per MLB.com's Brent Maguire, MLB is also introducing the "We Are Jackie" campaign that will be narrated by Baseball Hall of Famer CC Sabathia.

The campaign will include dedicated television spots across all MLB media outlets, as well as a series of social media interviews featuring current and former players.

Players scheduled to be part of the interview series include Sabathia, Andruw Jones, Michael Harris II, Lawrence Butler, as well as Athletes Unlimited Softball League stars Maya Brady and Jayda Coleman.

The Dodgers will hold a pregame ceremony at the Jackie Robinson statue in Centerfield Plaza at Dodger Stadium prior to their game against the New York Mets.

Bob Kendrick, president of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, as well as Robinson's granddaughters, Sonya Pankey Robinson and Ayo Robinson, will be part of the pregame ceremony in Los Angeles.

Robinson went 0-for-3 with a run scored in his first MLB game. He would go on to hit .297/.383/.427 in 151 games in 1947 to win the NL Rookie of the Year award.

His third season in 1949 saw Robinson win the NL MVP award and make his first All-Star team. He won a World Series title with the Dodgers in 1955, defeating the New York Yankees in seven games.

Robinson retired after the 1956 season and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year on the ballot. His No. 42 jersey was retired across MLB in 1997 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of his debut.