Adidas Honors Jackie Robinson

The tributes coincide with Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson Day on April 15.

Writer: Thomas J. Ryan

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947, Adidas unveiled a special edition baseball cleat and turf trainer and announced a new field at Robinson’s alma mater, John Muir High School in Pasadena, CA.

The tributes coincide with Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson Day on April 15.

With a cream colored premium suede version of the 2017 Adizero Afterburner, $120, as a blank canvas, the cleat’s design is centered around Robinson’s signature, which is highlighted in gold foil above a 70th anniversary gold embroidered stencil commemorating the historic date he started in the majors. The old school numeric stencil is inspired by Robinson’s gym bag that displayed his universally retired uniform number (42).

Accenting the cream base color, the bronze color pallet reflects the bricks from Brooklyn’s legendary Ebbets Field, where Robinson started and finished his baseball career, and the ballpark’s facade is highlighted on the heel of the cleat. Additionally, the bronze plate of the cleat was inspired by Robinson’s Hall of Fame bust.

Adidas’ three stripes are stitched in brown and black tweed to pay homage to the tweed suit jacket Robinson wore the day he retired from the game. His career stats – BA .311 | R 947 | H 1518 | SB 197 | RBI 734 | HR 137 – are stamped into the heel pulltabs.

The Adidas Baseball Icon Turf Trainer, $100, includes many of the same details.

Both come with a custom sockliner that features his signature in gold foil emblazoned atop a hand-drawn sketch of Robinson sliding into second base. Additionally, the tongue of the cleats and trainer are donned with a 70th anniversary gold pin that was inspired by 1947 World Series press pins. The pin features Robinson’s signature, Ebbets field, 1947-2017 dates and two crossing baseball bats.

The new baseball and softball field at John Muir High School, built by 20 Adidas employee volunteers, will serve the school’s approximately 900 students as well as local Little Leagues. In addition to the field, Special edition Jackie Robinson-inspired uniforms and cleats will be given by Adidas to baseball and softball teams at John Muir High School for their games on Jackie Robinson Day on April 15th.

“Jackie Robinson changed the game of baseball forever,” said Tauna Dean, director of Adidas Social Purpose. “He showed us what breaking barriers looks like. We believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives and we want to help positively impact lives by removing barriers to sports for kids who might not have an opportunity to play otherwise. This new baseball and softball field is just one small way we can help our sports community.”