Why does Jackie Robinson matter? Pasadena has the answer on his 105th birthday

Jackie Robinson – No. 42, the trailblazer, the athlete, the Pasadena resident, the icon – would’ve turned 105 on Wednesday, Jan. 31

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Among the parties, the Rose Bowl Stadium hosted a celebration – complete with cupcakes, tours of memorabilia, interactive displays and more for the public

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The Rose Bowl gathering followed the celebration at Jackie Robinson Community Center, where the public got self-guided tours of Jackie Robinson memorabilia

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The exhibit there was on loan from the Pasadena Baseball Reliquary, which features a Grays jersey

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Negro League baseball items, historical pictures, and a model of Ebbets Field. Members of Jackie Robinson’s family were set to be in attendance

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Underpinning it all was Robinson’s barrier breaking career, which wove its way through Pasadena, where whether it’s a park or a statue, his legacy shines bright

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Robinson’s path found its way through Pasadena — from Georgia. His athletic greatness — and his resilience — in multiple sports would lead him to UCLA and then ultimately to the Dodgers

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