A man who stole a statue of Jackie Robinson from a park in Wichita, Kansas has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, and theft in May. The man, Ricky Alderete, stole the statue, which was paid for by the nonprofit League 42 for about $50,000 and installed in 2021. Robinson, who wore number 42 throughout his baseball career and broke the sport’s color barrier in 1947, is an iconic figure in baseball and the Civil Rights movement. The MLB has dedicated April 15 as a day when all players and coaches wear Robinson’s number 42 in his honor.
The theft of the Robinson statue garnered national attention due to its historical significance and importance to the community of Wichita. League 42, which aims to introduce baseball to youth in the area, expressed the statue as a cherished symbol of inspiration. Fundraising efforts helped raise nearly $200,000 to replace the stolen statue, which was rebuilt at an art foundry in Colorado where the original was created. The sentencing of Alderete was seen as an important step in ensuring justice for the community, according to Chief Joe Sullivan of the Wichita Police Department.
The sentencing of Alderete to 15 years in prison is seen as a significant milestone in ensuring justice for the community of Wichita, who have rallied together to replace the stolen statue of Jackie Robinson. The sentencing comes after fundraising efforts helped raise nearly $200,000 to replace the statue, which was installed by the nonprofit League 42 in 2021. The MLB has also dedicated a day each year since 2004, known as Jackie Robinson Day, where all players and coaches wear number 42 in honor of the iconic baseball player.
Surveillance video showed that at least two other individuals were present when the statue was cut from its stand, leaving behind bronze replicas of Robinson’s cleats. Parts of the statue were later found charred from a fire in another park seven miles away. Police have indicated that they do not believe the crime to be racially motivated but instead driven by the financial gain of scrapping common metal. The theft of the statue of Robinson, a significant figure in baseball and the Civil Rights movement, has sparked the community to come together in support of justice and replacing the stolen statue.
League 42, the nonprofit that installed the stolen statue of Jackie Robinson, plans to unveil its new statue at McAdams Park with the help of the MLB and the Wichita community. The new statue, created with contributions from fundraising efforts, will once again honor the legacy of Robinson and inspire the youth of Wichita through baseball. The sentencing of Ricky Alderete to 15 years in prison for the theft of the statue of Robinson is seen as an important step towards ensuring justice and accountability for the community. The theft of the statue, which garnered national attention, has sparked unity and support from within and beyond the Wichita community, underscoring the enduring influence and inspiration of Jackie Robinson.
