UCLA Unveils Jackie Robinson Monument

On Saturday, UCLA unveiled a monument honoring Jackie Robinson on Bruin Walk near the entrance to the John Wooden Center.

By Joe Piechowski@JPiechowski Mar 7, 2016, 6:00am PST

In November 2014, UCLA officially named 22 of its athletic facilities for Bruin legend Jackie Robinson as those facilities officially became part of the Jackie Robinson Athletics & Recreation Complex. At the time, it was also announced that UCLA was retiring the number 42 for all sports in Robinson's honor.

On Saturday afternoon, UCLA held a ceremony to unveil a new monument on Bruin Walk near the main entrance to the John Wooden Center. Following speeches from Chancellor Block, Kathy Robinson Young who is Jackie Robinson's niece, Janina Montero, Dan Guerrero and Casey Wasserman, the new monument was unveiled. The monument was made possible by a generous donation from Casey Wasserman and the Wasserman Foundation.

It features Robinson's number 42 along with a plaque which reads:

'A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.’ – Jackie Robinson

From 1939-1941, Jackie Robinson made his mark at UCLA as a four-sport star for the Bruins: in football, a peerless running back; in basketball, the leading scorer; in track, a national champion; and in baseball, a highly-regarded shortstop.

He forever changed the world on April 15, 1947, shattering the color barrier in Major League Baseball while wearing the number 42.

In 2014, to mark the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s arrival in Westwood, UCLA named its athletic and recreation complex in his honor while also announcing that no Bruin, in any sport, will wear the number 42 ever again.

This monument ensures that Jackie Robinson’s legacy will be carried forward by Bruins for generations to come.

The monument features a 42-inch tall number 42 bronze sculpture. The sculpture was designed to unify the in-ground bronze 42 which has been placed at every entrance to each of the 22 facilities which are part of the Jackie Robinson Athletics & Recreation Complex.

Following the unveiling, pictures were taken in front of the monument. My personal favorite was the Robinson Family photo because of how many family members both young and old were in attendance.