The 70th anniversary of Jackie’s contribution to sports and society honored in fourth annual game, benefiting United Way of Indian River County
NEWS RELEASE
Historic Dodgertown and United Way of Indian River County are pleased to announce the fourth annual Jackie Robinson Celebration Game will take place on Saturday evening, April 15 at Holman Stadium. Tickets for this popular game will go on sale March 23 at multiple locations, and the event is expected to sell out.
This year the St. Lucie Mets will play the Kissimmee Florida Fire Frogs, formerly known as the Brevard County Manatees. The Fire Frogs team is an Atlanta Braves affiliate. Game time is 6:35 p.m., with gates opening at 4:30 p.m.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and when he stepped onto the field he broke the color barrier in sports. The following year Dodgertown opened and became the first fully integrated Spring Training facility in the south.
“This year’s Jackie Robinson Celebration Game is most significant because April 15 is the 70th anniversary of when Jackie first played Major League Baseball for the Dodgers,” said Peter O’Malley, Historic Dodgertown Chairman. “The extraordinary impact Jackie made is being appreciated and understood more and more throughout the years. He was a leader of American civil rights at a time when segregation was prevalent in society. Jackie succeeded on and off the field starting during Spring Training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach.”
“United Way is proud to partner with Historic Dodgertown in the fourth annual Jackie Robinson Celebration Game,” United Way CEO Michael Kint said. “This has become a phenomenal community-wide event that is inspirational, family friendly, affordable, and lots of fun. We deliberately keep ticket prices as low as possible so more people have access to this outstanding event.”
“The Jackie Robinson Celebration Game is an event the entire County looks forward to, and it is fitting the game is held here, where history took place,” said Craig Callan, Vice President, Historic Dodgertown. “When guests and athletes come to Historic Dodgertown they are walking on the same paths and playing on the fields where Jackie practiced and played, which is of tremendous significance. We are grateful to Minor League Baseball, the St. Lucie Mets and Fire Frogs for their participation in honoring a great man.”
Massey Romans Wealth Management Team of Raymond James together with Route 60 Hyundai are this year’s game sponsors, and their generosity gives Treasure Coast residents the opportunity to enjoy baseball outdoors and under the lights at Historic Dodgertown’s Holman Stadium.
Advance tickets are priced at $6 apiece and available Thursday, March 23 through Thursday, April 13, at the following locations: Marine and Seacoast Banks in Indian River and St. Lucie Counties, as well as at the United Way Center in Vero Beach and at Historic Dodgertown. On Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, tickets will be sold at Historic Dodgertown’s main lobby only, for $8 apiece. Net ticket proceeds will benefit community service programs through the United Way of Indian River County.
United Way does the critical but largely invisible work required to reach community human service goals especially in the areas of education, financial stability and health. For more information about United Way or to give online, visit our website at UnitedWayIRC.org. United Way of Indian River County invites people to get involved by helping others. Go to www.VolunteerIndianRiverCounty.org to learn about local opportunities for service.
To learn more about the Jackie Robinson Celebration Game please visit www.UnitedWayIRC.org. For more information about Historic Dodgertown, please visit www.HistoricDodgertown.com.
Indian River Guardian 
I’ll be at the Jackie Robinson game #42. No one else in baseball has ever had that number. I spoke before the Vero Beach Visioning Group about the following: We need to preserve the Historic Dodgertown 9 hole Golf Course. Branch Richey (sp) had that built so that Jackie Robinson would have a place to play golf during Spring Training in Vero Beach. Indian River County had no public golf courses at that time. They now have two successful ones – The Dunes and The Sands. My daughter has played both, and thinks both are excellent courses. By the way, she is an excellent golfer – among other talents.
I think the Historic Dodgertown Golf Course must be preserved. It is a significant part of Vero’s History!
I talked to a doctor from Ohio on St. Patty’s Day, who used to play that 9 hole golf course regularly. He doesn’t understand why it wouldn’t/couldn’t be successful. He thought it was perfect for someone who didn’t want to spend the whole day playing golf.
All the City Manager could say is, “well, it isn’t 18 holes.” No it is not. But it is a 9 hole golf course that is significant to Vero Beach’s History.
I think we could get grants,etc. to help restore this golf course. And, with the proper promotion, it could/would be very successful. Think – emblems that could attach to golf bags with the info on a striking historic baseball motif.
WHAT DOES ANYBODY ELSE THINK?