League 42 ‘determined to move forward’ with unveiling of new Jackie Robinson statue
The pain subsides a little more for Bob Lutz every day.
It’s been a little more than six months since the life-sized bronze statue of Jackie Robinson, a crowning achievement for Lutz and his League 42, was cut off at the ankles and stolen from McAdams Park.
Lutz was left emotionally devastated, like a piece of himself went missing with the statue. He founded the nonprofit in 2013 to help local children play baseball affordably and to honor Robinson, the first Black player to play Major League Baseball in the modern era.
When the story of the theft became national news, Lutz was left in awe by the outpouring of support from all around the country.
More than $700,000 was raised for League 42, and MLB agreed to cover the costs of a brand-new statue of Robinson, which will be unveiled in a public ceremony at McAdams Park at 6 p.m. Monday to mark the end of a saga.
“It’s been such a long process with a lot of different emotions,” Lutz said. “We’re going to celebrate on Monday. We’re not going to look back in the past, we’re determined to move forward. It feels really good to have Jackie Robinson represented in this way. It’s good to have it back home.”
For years, Lutz tried to attract national attention to the league centered around Robinson. He never had much luck — until the statue was stolen.
Almost every national outlet has now written about League 42, and Monday’s ceremony in Wichita is expected to include the attendance of Joe Torre, a 4-time World Series manager with the New York Yankees, and CC Sabathia, a former Cy Young award winner. Lutz has also commended the efforts of Major League Baseball and the Kansas City Royals during the process.
“There’s certainly been a silver lining around this black cloud,” Lutz said.
The money raised will help League 42, which serves more than 600 kids on 46 different teams every summer, for years to come. The plan is to spread the money between league initiatives, like the Bright Lights literacy program, as well as renovating the umpire building.
But the money has also gone toward improvements made to the Jackie Robinson pavilion, which will be on display on Monday. The priority was to make the area safer and more aesthetically pleasing, as the new statue will be mounted on a 4-foot pedestal and be surrounded by shrubs.
In a fateful twist, the new statue arrived in Wichita on Friday morning — the same day Ricky Alderete, the man who stole the Jackie Robinson statue, was sentenced to roughly 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts, including aggravated criminal damage.
Before being sentenced, Alderete apologized to the city, his family and League 42.
“I let fentanyl take over me and made a lot of poor decisions. I am not going to deny that. I never meant to hurt anybody,” he said. “I am embarrassed, I’m ashamed. Whatever you do today I accept. I am ready for that. I believe I am where I am supposed to be right now because at the rate I am going, I might have been dead.”
Five days after the statue was stolen, its remains were found burning in a trash can in Garvey Park. Investigators say Alderete and at least two others tried to pawn the statue for drug money. No one else has been arrested or charged.
The bronze cleats left behind by the vandals have since been donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
It is still a painful memory for Lutz, but he feels like Friday’s sentencing and Monday’s ceremony will help bring closure. Before Friday’s sentencing, Lutz had previously met with Alderete and his family for what he called a “cordial and informative” meeting.
“Early on it was very difficult, but time heals,” Lutz said. “I was afforded an opportunity to meet with (Alderete) and it was a good conversation. I hope that Ricky has seen the error of his ways and I believe he does. I believe he’s genuine when he talks about his desire to improve his life. So I hope whatever punishment awaits him, he takes that punishment and is able to lead a better life.”
After retiring as a longtime columnist for The Eagle in 2017, Lutz said League 42 has come to define his life following his distinguished writing career.
It may even inspire him to return to writing.
“I’ve always said I’m an author waiting for a subject,” Lutz said. “If I were ever to write a book, this would probably be the book to write. Now, do I have that kind of energy and that kind of focus? I’m not sure. But this would certainly be a good one.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
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