Major League Baseball

Robinson Foundation in on Dodgers deal

Published Mar. 29, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Jackie Robinson Foundation, created by the baseball legend's widow Rachel Robinson, is a partner in the Magic Johnson-Guggenheim Partners group that this week announced a record-setting deal to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Post reported Thursday.

In addition, Rachel Robinson will sit on the Dodgers' board of directors. The not-for-profit foundation, created in 1973, is in talks with the group about getting an equity stake in the storied franchise, sources said.

"Magic thought about Robinson a lot," one source familiar with the bidding group said Wednesday night.

Johnson reportedly got to know Rachel Robinson when he was honored by the foundation in 2002.

Magic Johnson is the first African-American owner of a Major League Baseball club. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American Major Leaguer.

Robinson starred for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956, before the team moved to Los Angeles.

Johnson's group has quietly been working with the Robinson Foundation for months as part of the buying group. But because the foundation works closely with Major League Baseball, it stayed in the shadows so there would be no fallout if Magic's bid came up short, a source said.

Johnson believes the foundation can help with community outreach.

Chicago-based financial-services firm Guggenheim Partners is the big money behind the Johnson group buying the team. Guggenheim CEO Marc Walter will be the controlling owner.

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