Major League Baseball

Dodgers will build and house MLB's first Jackie Robinson statue

Published Apr. 15, 2015 11:09 p.m. ET

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It is an "obvious" thing to do, Stan Kasten, the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers, said.

The No. 42 is retired throughout Major League Baseball in honor of Dodger legend Jackie Robinson, who broke the MLB's color barrier in 1947.

Currently, there are no Robinson statues at any MLB ballparks, but that will soon change. Dodger Stadium will be the first to have one, Kasten announced prior to the Dodgers hosting the Seattle Mariners in the 2015 MLB Civil Rights Game on Wednesday.

The statue is in line with the next part of the upgrades the Dodgers ownership group has made in and around the stadium since taking over three years ago.

"It's time for us to do the other things that will really make the place even more special," Kasten said.

Kasten could not provide any of the details about the project and, as of now, there is no timeline. He says the Dodgers will get together with the Robinson family, including his widow Rachel, to go over the particulars of the statue design.

"It's an obvious idea that's been rumbling around since we got here," Kasten said. "We didn't know the exact time and the place for it but it seemed inevitable that there would be a Jackie Robinson statue at the right time. This is the perfect date to announce it."

Wednesday also was Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball, making the timing of the Dodgers announcement supreme.  

The Dodgers president made the announcement speaking alongside Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, Rachel Robinson, and Dodgers partner Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Don Newcombe, a former teammate of Robinson's, along with Robinson's daughter, Sharon, and Frank Robinson, the first black manager in Major League Baseball, also were in attendance.  

Rachel was thrilled to hear the latest news in how the Dodgers planned to honor her late husband.

"It's the fulfillment of a dream to have a statue of Jackie Robinson in (Dodger) Stadium," she said. 

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