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Jackie Robinson is considered by many to be one of the greatest baseball places ever to grace the game.
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But his legacy goes beyond his skill set. During the 20th century, he became the first Black American to play Major League Baseball in the U.S.
Breaking the Color Barrier
Robinson’s debut is considered by many to be a turning point in U.S. history. He broke through the color barrier when he stepped foot on the field for the Dodgers in a match against the Boston Braves in 1947.
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Robinson would go on to play over 1,382 games during his lifetime.
Robinson Statue Erected in Wichita
In honor of the baseball stars’ career, a local league in Wichita, Kansas, erected a life-size statue of the star in 2021.
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The cast statue stood in McAdams Park for over three years until shocking news revealed it had been stolen last week.
Video Footage Shows Criminals Leaving the Scene
According to reports, the criminals were seen on security footage cutting the statue at its base and hauling it from the site in the early hours of the morning.
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The criminals then loaded the Robinson statue onto a truck that police soon found abandoned a short distance from the crime.
Firefighters Find Statue in Pieces
Less than a week after the disappearance of the statue, the fire department of Wichita received a callout to a fire.
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When they arrived on the scene, they discovered a trash can was ablaze, and within were the destroyed remains of the Robinson statue.
Fire Department Launch Full Investigation
Unfortunately, firefighters realized the statue had been cut into sections. Those found in the fire were beyond repair. The rest of the statue has not yet been found.
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“Wichita Fire Department arson investigators are investigating the fire aspect of this incident,” said police spokesman Andrew Ford, who added that authorities have conducted more than a hundred interviews,” officials said.
Police Aim to Find Those Responsible
The Wichita police department is treating the case with severity, and their chief, Joe Sullivan, claims they will find those responsible for the crime.
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“Whether you’re involved with stealing the statue, whether or not you accepted the statue, you were part of the destruction of the statue,” Sullivan said. “It would be in your best interest to simply turn yourself in.”
Heartbreaking Discovery
Brandon Johnson, a Witchia’s City Council member, spoke about the unfortunate situation during an interview.
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“I hate to see that this statue is not in one piece,” he said. “I do want everyone to know that we are undeterred in making sure that statue gets rebuilt and put back there for our community.”
Plans to Replace the Statue
Plans to replace the statue of the iconic star are already underway. The statue was originally cast with the help of Wichita’s League 42, a youth league named after Robinson.
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According to Bob Lutz, the founder of the league, they have already recovered the original mold for the first statue.
Community in Need of a Little Joy
After the deliberate destruction of the former statue, Lutz claims the community is in need of joy.
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“It will mean everything. It will be a joyous occasion,” Lutz said. “Unlike the past five days, we’re ready for some joy. We’re ready for some happiness, and we’re going to pursue that in the best way that we can.”
Funding the New Statue
The hardest part, according to Lutz, will be financing the statue.
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Reports suggest the original statue cost over $75,000. Once the money has been raised, the construction of the replacement will commence.