Robinson statue to be unveiled by Dodgers

By The Associated Press

He was the first black man to play in the major leagues, ending six decades of racial segregation, and a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fittingly, Jackie Robinson is the first player to be honored with a statue at Dodger Stadium. It will be unveiled Saturday on the 70th anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Two years ago on Jackie Robinson Day, owner and chairman Mark Walter suggested a sculpture belonged at Dodger Stadium of the sixtime All-Star second baseman who starred when the team was in Brooklyn.

“He just felt it was an idea whose time had come,” said Janet Marie Smith, the team’s senior vice president of planning and development.

Blue Jays

Toronto placed slugging third baseman Josh Donaldson on the 10-day disabled list with a sore right calf. “It’s very aggravating, very frustrating,” he said.

White Sox

Manager Rick Renteria put together a lineup with Avisail Garcia in right, Leury Garcia in center and Willy Garcia in left for the series opener against the Twins, the first time in major league history that a team has started three outfielders with the same last name. There only have been three games in major league history in which an outfield has been filled with players of the same name, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Brothers Felipe, Matty and Jesus Alou appeared in the outfield for San Francisco in three games in September 1963, but each time, one was added as a defensive replacement.

Elsewhere

Hall of Famer Rod Carew received a new heart and kidney from late Baltimore Ravens player Konrad Reuland in what is believed to be the first such transplant involving pro athletes. Carew had the procedure in December.

Reuland had died four days earlier after a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 29. Reuland attended middle school in Southern California with Carew’s children.