WICHITA, Kan. — A rebuilt bronze statue of Jackie Robinson is expected to be unveiled Monday to replace the original statue, which was stolen earlier this year.
The original statue, which was also made of bronze, was cut from the ankles, leaving only the cleats at McAdams Park in Wichita, Kansas where hundreds of children play in “League 42.” An identical statue will replace the original. The number “42” was assigned to the iconic baseball player’s jersey when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
“League 42” is a nonprofit organization. Following the theft, which made national headlines, about $300,000 in donations poured in to help replace the statue.
The statue’s cleats left behind after the theft were donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
The statue was originally dedicated in 2021 following six years of planning. Its creator, artist John Parsons, died in 2022.
One of the suspects in the crime, Ricky Alderete, plead guilty and was sentenced to 18 months, and ordered to pay $41,500 restitution. However, Alderete will serve about 15 years in prison for a burglary that happened several days after the statue was stolen.
The rebuilt statue will be unveiled during a ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. CDT in McAdams Park.
More about the theft and replacement statue.
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