FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University’s recent fundraiser for the new Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, “SHUand42: A Subway Series Celebration,” exceeded expectations.
More than 400 people participated in the virtual event in late October. They watched Joe Torre, former baseball player, manager and current MLB executive, and Bobby Valentine, SHU’s executive director of athletics, discuss the 20th anniversary of the iconic 2000 World Series. That matchup put the New York Yankees against the New York Mets—teams managed at the time by Torre and Valentine, respectively. The two men talked about the championship series, which ended with the Yankees winning the fifth game. This night, the winner was the University’s newest scholarship, named after baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
Robinson became the first African American to play major league baseball (MLB) in 1947, ending racial segregation in the sport. In acknowledgement of his accomplishments and culture-shaping career, all MLB teams retired his uniform number, 42.
The University’s Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship was developed in partnership with The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF). This scholarship is in line with SHU’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, staying true to the core values of the University’s mission. If you would like to watch a rebroadcast of the event, please make a donation here and you will receive viewing access. All proceeds from the corresponding live auction will benefit the scholarship as well.
During the first portion of “SHUand42,” Torre and Valentine answered questions from the moderators, Harold Reynolds and Bob Costas, about their famous World Series matchup. “Every game had drama; every game was distinctive,” Costas said. “Most of the games went to the wire.”
“They were exciting games, I’ll live with the memory of them forever,” Valentine said. “I had a chance to be with Joe, to be on that field, to experience wonderful athletes playing at their highest level. Any little break in a game could have taken us to game six or seven. It was an honor just to be there, just like it’s an honor to be here today.”
Later on, Torre and Valentine also reflected on Robinson, who played against the Yankees with another New York team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the 1947 World Series. Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s daughter and JRF board of director’s member, also joined the conversation. “He used to drive these defenders up a tree,” Torre said. “He was so good.”
Torre discussed how Robinson was special for enduring so much as a Black player. “He never backed down from who he was,” Torre said. Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball and endured day-to-day challenges on and off the field, Torre said.
Torre recalled a situation that took place five years after Robinson retired that highlighted just one of those challenges. During Torre’s spring training in 1962, the Black players on his team weren’t allowed to stay in the same hotel as the white players. The entire team moved to one motel so everyone could be together.
“Sacred Heart is very grateful to its generous donors,” said Bill Reidy, vice president for advancement. “Without the help of Joe, Bobby and Sharon, we would not have exceeded our fundraising expectations. We appreciate their time and dedication to this amazing scholarship.”
The JRF employs a selective application process to identify students across the country to receive four-year scholarships in Robinson’s name. The SHU student who receives the scholarship also will participate in JRF programs that promote the values and character traits Robinson embodied.
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About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 386 Colleges–2021 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best Business Schools–2020 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater. www.sacredheart.edu
About the Jackie Robinson Foundation
Since 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) has perpetuated the memory of Jackie Robinson by providing generous four-year scholarships and comprehensive support to highly motivated college students with financial need to ensure their success and develop their leadership potential. A new online platform, JRF Impact, will share JRF’s celebrated “42 Strategies for Success” curriculum with a broader college student population. With the upcoming opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City, the Foundation will build on the legacy of Jackie Robinson by educating and inspiring the general public around his heroic story and the ideals and values that defined his life. Learn more by visiting jackierobinson.org