Dodgers News: Stolen Jackie Robinson Statue Burned, Dismantled in Kansas
The stolen statue of Jackie Robinson from McAdams Park in Wichita, Kan., was found dismantled and burned in a trash can fire on Tuesday morning, the day before what would have been Robinson’s 105th birthday.
Local authorities called it “a disgraceful act” and are still searching for the perpetrators.
Around 8:38 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, the Wichita Fire Department responded to a call about a fire at Garvey Park. Upon the fire’s extinguishing, they found pieces of the burned statue.
Surveillance video caught individuals entering the park around midnight. They cut the statue off at the ankles, loaded it into a pickup truck, and left behind the feet. Damages have been estimated at around $75,000.
“It’s really disheartening to see the remnants of the statue, the disgraceful way it’s been disrespected,” Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said during the briefing. “This is a direct indication of the pressure our investigators are putting on the perpetrators that committed this act.”
Authorities recovered the truck on Monday and are asking the individuals involved to turn themselves in.
“Either way, we will be arresting several people for what they’ve done to our community,” the chief said.
The statue was built by artist John Parsons and donated to the community by League 42, a nonprofit named after Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
League 42 founder and CEO Bob Lutz told reporters that the original mold for the statue is still viable and that he intends to replace the destroyed one. A GoFundMe raised funds for the new statue, doubling the amount of the damages. Meanwhile, Major League League Baseball and the 30 MLB teams have also pledged support:
Per the Associated Press, the statue was installed in 2021 and League 42 paid $50,000 for it.
Photo Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
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I strongly believe no statues should ever be built for athletes.
They have done nothing heroic or important for society.
Playing a sport is NOT heroic or important.
IF someone wants to immortalize Jackie Robinson for civil rights reasons, fine.
But for baseball it is ancient history and we would all be better off just moving on. And leaving the past in the past.
We need to stop placating certain whiny groups of people. LIfe is not fair for a lot of people, but we live on.
The past is what helps us deal with the future. We learn from history. Jackie Robinson has had a significant impact on young Americans in my opinion.