CAIRO — The Atlanta Braves will host a celebration Friday, April 15 at the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club to help mark the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier.

Robinson, who was born in Cairo, was the first Black player in modern-era baseball, taking the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He played first base that day against the then-Boston Braves. Batting second in the lineup, Robinson went 0-for-3 but drew a walk and scored a run in a 5-3 Dodgers win.

Starting at 3 p.m. Friday, the event will feature performances by the Atlanta Braves Heavy Hitters, a live DJ, a food truck, and a celebration for the kids of the Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club.

 Following the private event, the public is invited to take photos with the coveted 2021 World Series Trophy from 4-7 p.m.

 In addition, the Atlanta Braves and Chevrolet will donate a brand-new 2022 Express 3500 passenger van to the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club. The van, which seats 15 passengers, will be instrumental in helping the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club serve the community and provide safe, comfortable and reliable transportation for the children within the organization. 

On April 22, the Braves will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at Truist Park as the team takes on the Miami Marlins. The Braves will host the children from the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club in their new Community Clubhouse, a new pregame hospitality space located inside the Champions Suites, for pregame food and fun before they enjoy the game from their lower-level seats.

Robinson, who died in 1972, was the 1947 Rookie of the Year and was named National League Most Valuable Player in 1949.

He retired from baseball after the 1956 season. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

The Jackie Robinson Boy & Girls Club of Cairo-Grady County serves over 250 kids between 6 and 16 years of age annually in programs designed to increase academic performance, build character, and teach critical decision-making skills.