Statue of Jackie Robinson stolen from Kansas Park
Authorities in Kansas are looking for the vandals who stole a life-size bronze statue commemorating Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player, after cutting it off at the ankles and leaving only the statue's shoes and foot had left behind.
Police in Wichita were notified of the theft around 12:50 a.m. Thursday after receiving a call from League 42, the Little League nonprofit that installed the statue in McAdams Park, Andrew Ford, a police spokesman, said Saturday.
He estimated that the statue weighed at least 100 pounds.
“I don't know what the motivation is,” Mr. Ford said. “All considerations are being explored.”
Mr. Ford said police had surveillance footage showing the statue being cut down and placed in the back of a truck that was being pulled up or parked “at least in a way where it could be, you know, discreetly hidden.”
He said at least two people were believed to be involved. Mr Ford said the theft happened early on Thursday morning. He declined to specify what the image was cut with, saying that was part of the investigation.
Robinson, who had been a young star with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues, broke the color barrier and became the first black player to play in Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field in his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15 . , 1947.
Robinson became a symbol of hope for racial equality in the country. After retiring from baseball, he continued to work on civil rights issues and broke barriers in advertising, broadcasting and business.
Mr. Robinson “used his prestige as a star athlete to build support for the civil rights movement.” according to the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute. Dr. King said Robinson 'made my success possible' according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. “Without him I would never have been able to do what I did.”
Bob Lutz, the executive director of League 42, takes his name for the song Robinson said it was a challenge to erect the statue because the group had to raise money and needed permission to use his name and likeness.
The statue, which has an estimated value of $75,000, was installed in April 2021, he said.
Mr. Lutz said he believed the theft was an isolated incident and had no idea what a motive for the theft might be.
“I am hopeful that this was a purely ignorant decision made by ignorant people,” he said. “That they didn't know any better.”
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said during a press conference On Friday, he said he was “frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue,” noting that the theft occurred just before February, Black History Month.
“Our city wants the statue back,” the chief said. “We also want the individuals who robbed our community of treasure to be held accountable for their actions, and I assure you they will.”