The Players Alliance, a non-profit started by active and retired professional baseball players, announced commitments by players, coaches and staff to donate their game-day salary in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.
Among those who pledged to donate their full or partial game-day salary were David Price, Lorenzo Cain, Jason Heyward, Aaron Hicks and Mike Moustakas. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also made a donation to the Players Alliance.
“Players sacrifice their pay because they believe that diversity is an asset that should be actively pursued,” former MLB outfielder and current The Players Alliance Board Chair Curtis Granderson said in a statement.
“Our supporters reflect every racial, religious and professional level found in the sport and they are committed to upholding Jackie’s legacy by breaking today’s barriers.”
Funds raised this year for Jackie Robinson Day will allow the Players Alliance to invest in struggling inner city and rural baseball teams. Earlier this week, the group invested in more than 500 middle schoolers in Atlanta.
Future plans include attracting skilled coaches and trainers to under-resourced programs, sponsoring after-school intensives and providing uniforms, shoes, equipment and transportation, among other efforts.
In 2021, the Players Alliance’s ‘Players Pull Up’ tour traveled to 33 cities to provide pantry supplies and COVID resources to more than 20,000 families in need.
In partnership with Major League Baseball, the group provided $1 million worth of baseball equipment, giving children across the country first-time access to the tools to play the game.
Price has been heavily involved with The Players Alliance, which included donating salary last season, and coming together with Cody Bellinger and several others for distribution of food and baseball equipment.
All MLB teams wore No. 42 in Dodger Blue on Jackie Robinson Day
MLB announced a multitude of new and refreshed tributes to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier. As is tradition, players, managers and coaches will once again wear Robinson’s iconic number No. 42 on April 15.
However, for the first time in history, all teams will do so in Dodger Blue jersey numbers regardless of their primary team colors. What’s more, 42 patches with team-specific uniform colors will appear on Nike uniform sleeves and on New Era caps.
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