BOSTON, MA ¨C The Boston Red Sox will pay tribute to Jackie Robinson on Friday, January 31, on what would have been the 106^th birthday for the Hall of Famer. The club will visit 6^th ¨C 8^th grade students at Joseph Plouffe Academy in Brockton to speak about Robinson¡¯s impact on Major League Baseball and his connection to the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox alumni Chico Walker (¡¯80-¡¯84), Mike Cameron (¡¯10-¡¯11), and World Series Champion Jackie Bradley, Jr. (¡¯13-¡¯20, ¡¯22) will be in attendance for the annual Jackie Robinson Celebration of Life, now in its 22^nd year.

Also joining Friday¡¯s tribute is Jackie Robinson Foundation Vice President of Community Engagements and Partnerships Ivo Philbert, Red Sox Vice President/Club Counsel and Red Sox Hall of Famer Elaine Steward, and Red Sox Foundation Executive Director Bekah Salwasser; both Steward and Salwasser are Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars. Jahmai Webster of NESN will moderate the event. Wally the Green Monster and his sister Tessie will also be on hand, along with World Series trophies.

The program is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include interactive question and answer sessions between the panelists and students.

Robinson became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1947, when he donned a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and stepped onto the baseball diamond at Ebbets Field for a game against the Boston Braves. Dodgers President/General Manager Branch Rickey selected Robinson as much for his values and strength of character as for his baseball skills that helped him earn the 1947 Rookie of the Year Award, the 1949 National League Most Valuable Player Award, and six trips to the All-Star Game in a 10-year major league career during which the Dodgers won six N.L. pennants and the 1955 World Series.