Football

Jackie Robinson Statue Will be First Installed Outside Rose Bowl

He was raised in Pasadena and played football at the Rose Bowl for Pasadena City College in 1937 and 1938.

A statue of Jackie Robinson in a football uniform will be installed this fall outside of the Rose Bowl's main gate, stadium officials announced Monday.

Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball's color line in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, was raised in Pasadena and played football at the Rose Bowl for Pasadena City College in 1937 and 1938.

Robinson continued his football career at UCLA, which has played its home games at the Rose Bowl since 1982.

The statue will be the first outside the Rose Bowl.

Funds for the statue were donated by the Tull Family Foundation to Legacy Connections, the private nonprofit fundraising arm of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Thomas Tull was a producer of the 2013 film biography of Robinson, "42."

"The legendary courage and competitiveness of Jackie is meaningful for so many as he is a true American champion," said Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn.

"This iconic venue has seen so many important moments over a near-century, and being able to appropriately honor Jackie's impact with the first commemorative statue is only fitting."

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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