Jackie Robinson statue

A rebuilt bronze statue of Jackie Robinson is set to be unveiled in Wichita, Kansas, six months after the original was stolen and destroyed. The original statue, which depicted Robinson with a bat on his shoulder, was cut off at the ankles in January, leaving only his cleats behind. The community rallied to raise nearly $200,000 to replace the statue, demonstrating strong support for League 42, a youth baseball league named after Robinson's uniform number. The new statue, created from the original mold, will honor both Robinson's legacy and the late artist John Parsons. The thief, Ricky Alderete, has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution, citing his addiction to fentanyl as a factor in his actions. The unveiling ceremony will feature Little League players and former MLB All-Stars, highlighting the importance of Robinson's impact on baseball and society.