Concrete poured for new Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)—The process for the new Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park is underway. The concrete for the new statue was poured on Tuesday.

The concrete is for the statue’s home plate base. League 42 executive director Bob Lutz expects the full statue to be installed in early August. It is being created with the statue’s original mold in Colorado.

Jose Gonzalez with Artistic Polish and Design said it’s exciting to be a part of something special.

“This has just got a lot of attention; it’s got a lot of eyes on it, so kind of a special thing to be part of,” Gonzalez said. “So yeah just a little bit different, more on the decorative side.”

The original statue was cut off right above the cleats and was subsequently destroyed in January, prompting a police investigation. The cleats, which were still there, were later donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 30, the statue was found “dismantled and burned” at Garvey Park.

Lutz’s friend, the late John Parsons, crafted the statue.

“Fortunately, the mold from his work is still viable, and the statue that reappears at McAdams Park will be the work of John Parsons,” he said on Jan. 30. “In a matter of months, that will be erected at McAdams Park, and we’re looking forward to that day … It’ll be a joyous occasion, unlike today, unlike the past five days. We’re ready for some joy, you know. We’re ready for some happiness, and we’re going to pursue that in the best way we can.”

One person, 45-year-old Ricky Alderete, was arrested and pleaded guilty to the theft, which police said was motivated by “the financial gain of scraping common metal.”

League 42, a youth baseball league , was named in honor of Jackie Robinson, whose uniform number was 42. Robinson was the first African-American in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

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