Bronze reconstruction of stolen Jackie Robinson statue in Colorado triggers national support
- A statue of Jackie Robinson, stolen from a Kansas park, has been recreated in bronze in Colorado.
- The theft sparked a wave of national donations and support for the replacement sculpture.
- Metalsmiths in Colorado have honored the civil rights baseball icon through their craftsmanship.
A bronze statue of Jackie Robinson in Wichita, Kansas was destroyed by thieves. The statue was cut off at the ankles, leaving only the cleats behind. This statue was important because Robinson was the first black player in Major League Baseball in 1947. The community raised around $450,000 to $500,000 to replace the statue. Major League Baseball donated $100,000 to cover the replacement cost and other improvements. The new statue will look exactly like the original one made by artist John Parsons. The stolen bronze cleats found a new home at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. The community support after the theft showed that good things can come from bad situations. The president of the museum, Bob Kendrick, emphasized the importance of not giving up on people. The replacement statue will keep Robinson's memory alive.