- January 6, 2025
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Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach is now a National Commemorative Site.
President Joe Biden signed into law on Saturday, Jan. 4, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act, which honors the stadium where Jackie Robinson played his first professional baseball game on March 17, 1946, breaking baseball's color barrier.
The ballpark is currently home of the Daytona Tortugas, a Cincinnati Reds minor-league baseball team. The legislation designates Jackie Robinson Ballpark as a National Commemorative Site and directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to give the ballpark the designation of National Historic Landmark, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Waltz and Rep. Darren Soto in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Raphael Warnock of Georgia in the Senate, recognizing the enduring significance of the ballpark, according to the press release.
Robinson made his professional debut for the minor-league Montreal Royals on March 17, 1946, in an exhibition game against the Royals' parent team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. He made his major-league debut for the Dodgers a year later, ending Major League Baseball's racial segregation.
In Robinson's autobiography, "My Own Story," he reflected on the significance of his first game at the ballpark that now bears his name.
"I knew, of course, that everyone was not pulling for me to make good, but I was sure now that the whole world wasn’t lined up against me. And when I went to sleep, the applause was still ringing in my ears," he wrote.
The bill passed the House on Dec. 17 and the Senate on Dec. 20. It was co-sponsored by the entire Florida House delegation and had support from both Major and Minor League Baseball, according to the press release.
“The Jackie Robinson Ballpark Commemorative Site Act not only honors Jackie Robinson’s groundbreaking legacy but also ensures future generations will remember the profound impact he had on Daytona Beach, civil rights and professional sports,” Waltz stated in the press release. "I’m deeply thankful for the leadership and work of Congressman Soto, Senator Rubio and Senator Warnock on this bill.”
Bob Fregolle, the Tortugas' co-owner and operating partner, said, “I think I can speak for all of our fans and stakeholders when I say that we’re very excited and grateful for this legislation that puts us on the path towards National Landmark status for Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Jackie meant so much to the game and to our country, and it's our extreme privilege to carry on his legacy here in Daytona Beach.”
