Honoring Jackie, Dodging the Truth: How MLB and the Dodgers Are Failing Robinson's Legacy?

Each year on Jackie Robinson Day, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has spoken powerfully about the legacy of baseball’s racial pioneer. In 2022, he said: “What he did was incredible, but we’ve got to do him right by keep going.” In 2023: “Jackie was chosen … to fight the fight for all of us.” A year later, Roberts highlighted the toll Robinson endured: “He had a big burden … to take on all this negativity, this hate toward him, his wife, his kids, and still persevere.”

And in 2025, his reflection hit a little differently: “Jackie knew that things were bigger than him. He had to stay the course, remain steadfast, to give people an opportunity.”

Roberts' words came as MLB once again honored Robinson, marking the 78th anniversary of his 1947 debut that broke baseball’s color barrier and sparked a broader cultural shift in America. Since 2004, the league has commemorated April 15 by having every player wear Robinson’s retired No. 42—a tradition that’s largely been met with universal reverence.

But this year, the celebration came with an uneasy backdrop.

Robinson, DEI, and the Trump Administration’s Actions

In an unexpected turn, the Trump administration recently targeted Jackie Robinson in a pair of moves framed as part of a broader attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Last month, the Department of Defense removed an article about Robinson’s military service from its website, while the U.S. Naval Academy flagged a Robinson biography for possible removal from its library.

Both actions were justified with anti-DEI rhetoric—but drew swift backlash. The Pentagon eventually restored the article, and no Robinson-related books were ultimately removed.

The controversy raised an obvious question: What does Jackie Robinson have to do with DEI? He didn’t benefit from diversity policies—if anything, he defied the barriers that DEI programs are meant to address. Robinson wasn't a "diversity hire." He was a Hall of Fame-caliber player who succeeded despite entrenched racism, not because of any institutional support.

In the face of all this, MLB and the Dodgers have said little.

Dodgers’ Silence and the White House Visit

When asked last week about the removed article, Roberts simply noted he had “strong opinions on DEI.” Beyond that, the organization offered no public statement. A request for comment from Yahoo Sports was ignored.

Instead, the Dodgers made headlines for visiting the Trump White House last week. Despite Trump’s administration framing Robinson as a divisive figure, Mookie Betts—who produced a Jackie Robinson documentary in 2022—and Clayton Kershaw were among those smiling and shaking hands. Kershaw even gifted the former president a custom “Trump 47” Dodgers jersey.

That visit stood in contrast to previous stances. In 2019, Roberts said he wouldn’t attend a White House celebration with Trump, and Betts skipped a visit after winning the 2018 World Series with the Red Sox. But this time, Betts said he regretted making that decision about himself, while team president Stan Kasten claimed every player wanted to go.

Kiké Hernández, one of the team’s most outspoken players in the past, admitted it was a “lose-lose” situation and acknowledged fans were entitled to feel upset. Still, the team presented a united front. Roberts defended the visit, saying:

“I don’t personally view it as talking out of both sides of our mouth … I think people are going to have their opinions on what we did last week, but I do know that we all stand unified … and I was proud that we all stood together.”

Of note, the Dodgers did not present a unified front when they visited President Joe Biden in 2021—Blake Treinen opted not to go.

MLB’s Quiet Retreat from Diversity Language

While the Dodgers stayed silent, MLB also appeared to tiptoe away from its own messaging. Observers noticed that this year’s Jackie Robinson Day press release removed direct references to diversity and inclusion.

Compare the 2024 release:

“… spearheading initiatives that support communities and meaningfully address diversity and inclusion at all levels of our sport.”

To the 2025 version:

“… while communicating his message at all levels of the sport.”

That subtle shift came after the league scrubbed the word “diversity” from its careers page, citing compliance with an executive order targeting DEI programs. MLB insisted its values hadn’t changed—but the wording clearly had.

Most MLB teams, including the Dodgers, declined to share details about their diversity programs when contacted by journalist Bradford William Davis.

What Does Robinson Still Mean to the Dodgers?

For an organization that built its identity on Robinson’s courage, the Dodgers’ reluctance to speak out is striking. In trying to avoid controversy, both the team and league appear to be retreating from the values Robinson embodied—values that once required him to take on the impossible in the face of hate, threats, and violence.

On Tuesday, Roberts did his best to thread the needle, again evoking the burden Robinson carried:

“I’d like to think it’s a continued wake-up call for everyone … to appreciate the people who shaped our country. This country needs a wake-up call.”

Asked what that meant, Roberts pointed back to history:

“What he had to endure … to persevere for the greater good. And now, context on what’s hard in life individually is not even close to what was happening in the ’60s and ’70s.”

In contrast, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—who spoke to the Dodgers and Rockies this week—was more direct:

“We had to confront segregation. In many ways, we’re still confronting it. But it’s worth it … good people are trying to do the right thing.”

In honoring Robinson without defending his memory, the Dodgers and MLB risk turning a profound legacy into a platitude—something celebrated, but no longer protected. And while Jackie Robinson’s number may be safely retired across the league, his fight still demands the courage to speak up, especially when silence becomes complicity.