Baseball fans and local residents are furious about the destruction and theft of a Jackie Robinson statue at a youth baseball facility in Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita Police issued a statement Thursday detailing the crime, which occurred in the city’s McAdams Park. Someone cut off the statue at Robinson’s shoes and hauled it off.
The city estimated damages at $75,000.
“Our community is devastated,” the police statement concluded.
Overnight, @League42ICT Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park was stolen. Someone cut it just above Jackie's shoes and hauled it off in a truck. Our community is devastated. pic.twitter.com/MWbJvwga0k
— Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) January 25, 2024
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, said he was “heartbroken” by the “heinous destruction and theft”of the statue.
Absolutely heartbroken for my friends at League 42 in Wichita after the heinous destruction & theft of their beautiful Jackie Robinson statue that welcomed kids and fans to the baseball complex! I was in Wichita to support a fundraising event for League 42 in April 2022! @KSNNews pic.twitter.com/5qSm845feH
— Bob Kendrick (@nlbmprez) January 26, 2024
Robinson, who became the first Black player to break MLB’s color barrier in 1947, had a storied career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He died in 1972.
MLB still honors Robinson’s contributions each year on Jackie Robinson Day, and his No. 42 has been retired by all teams.
League 42 dedicated the statue on Jackie Robinson Day in 2021.
Wichita police released a series of photos of the truck involved in the crime, which happened just after midnight Thursday.
Anyone with information on the crime is urged to call investigators at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
Baseball fans far beyond the Wichita area were upset by the crime, with many calling for a fund-raising effort to replace the statue.
It’s fun to disagree about HOF candidates but as baseball fans we can ALL agree this act of vandalism is horrible. If anyone has any information please reach out to the authorities. If you’re in the Wichita area please share and be on the lookout for this statue! @KSNNews https://t.co/eTWvACmNpA
— The Case For: A Baseball Hall of Fame Podcast (@TheCaseFor) January 26, 2024
Everybody involved in perpetrating this should be ashamed of themselves, and held accountable!!! https://t.co/0AbIo1oQfV
— Andrew Wahoo (@WahooYellow) January 26, 2024
This world and the society in which we live in today, is just pure evil. Not all, but some. They’re as crooked as Lombard St in San Francisco. I pray that all “evil doers” be held accountable for their actions and are brought to justice. This is absolutely unacceptable! https://t.co/KJMF1okaty
— C⚾️achKBaseball (@kingsofcali11) January 26, 2024
What kind of evil is this? Unbelievable! I hope they catch whoever did this and make them pay https://t.co/EbkkmwTs0L
— Coach Jarv (@JarvisUSHistory) January 26, 2024
[Bob Kendrick; Photo Credit: Wichita Police]
