How Dodgers continue to invest in Jackie Robinson legacy

Mark Walter and his ownership group bought the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012. Not long after, he called Rachel Robinson, widow of Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson, said Della Britton, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

“Literally Mark supported us from day one when he bought the Dodgers,’’ Britton told USA TODAY Sports. "One of the first meetings he had, he called Rachel and Rachel and I went out to Los Angeles (from New York) and he said, ‘I want you to know this is part of your legacy and I very much feel the importance of this legacy to the team's history. We're partners...''

Jackie Robinson Day (Wednesday, April 15) will help spotlight the partnership between the Dodgers' current ownership group and Robinson's legacy.

In December, Walter and Thomas Toll, director of the movie "42" about Jackie Robinson, announced a $20 million to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which along with the Jackie Robinson Museum is in New York.

“I remember Mark calling me,’’ Britton said, “and saying, 'Della, what do you need? You’ve worked so hard on this museum. We're so proud. Can we be helpful?'"

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.

Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.

This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.

This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.

During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.

The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.

This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.

An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.

Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.

Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.

This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.

A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.

From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.

Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.

The Jackie Robinson Museum opened in 2022. When Walter learned a bridge loan on the museum project needed to be paid off, he came through, according to Britton. She also said Walter believes in a key part of Jackie Robinson’s story – the power of sports.

“It's an amazing equalizer, but it can also be an amazing force for change, for good,’’ Britton said. “And that's another thing that Mark Walter talks about, how he realizes how important sports is to bringing people together and for implementing the whole notion of egalitarianism.’’

'A bigger celebration'

On Wednesday, Rachel Robinson plans to be at the Jackie Robinson Museum, where she celebrated Jackie Robinson Day last year, too.

Britton planned to be at Dodger Stadium for the league-wide commemoration Major League Baseball started in 2004.

Jackie Robinson died in 1972. But Rachel Robinson has been around for all of the league-wide Jackie Robinson Day tributes held in honor of her late husband and Rachel Robinson's work, too.

She is 103 and lives in New York, home of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Jackie Robinson Museum. Of the foundation, Britton said, "We're a 53-year-old college scholarship program that Rachel started the year after Jackie died.’’

The Dodgers Foundation has supported dozens of Jackie Robinson scholars, according to Britton, who also said Walter hired some “very smart Jackie Robinson scholars.’’

Major League Baseball also supports the scholarship program, and preparation for Jackie Robinson Day has been underway, according to Britton.

“So it would start with the 30 teams,’’ she said, noting that Major League Baseball also has donated “generously’’ to the museum. “Each team, thanks to Major League Baseball by the way, supports a Jackie Robinson scholar..."

Several teams will honor scholars at the ballpark on Wednesday. Then there are the Dodgers.

“First of all, they embrace the fact that they support 10 Jackie Robinson scholars and they invite them all to the game and they put them on the field at the beginning,’’ Britton said. “So they have a big celebration. But then throughout the game, the Jumbotron gives stats and figures about not just Jackie Robinson, but also the foundation, his living legacy, if you will. So it's a bigger celebration. … It's wonderful.’’

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Dodgers continue to invest in the Jackie Robinson legacy