Jackie Robinson Stadium (UCLA baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jackie Robinson Stadium is a college baseball
stadium
in Los Angeles
, California
, U.S., the home field of the UCLA Bruins
of the Pac 10 Conference. Opened in 1981, it is the smallest stadium in the conference, with a seating capacity
of just 1,250. It is named after former Bruin baseball player Jackie Robinson
, the first African-American professional player of the modern era.
Robinson attended UCLA from 1939-41, after graduating from Pasadena Junior College. He was the first UCLA athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball
, football
, and track. He played in the major leagues
for ten seasons (1947
-56
), all with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A statue of Robinson can be found at the entrance to the stadium.
Jackie Robinson Stadium is located off-campus, on the west side of the Interstate 405 (San Diego)
freeway, on the grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Health Administration
. The stadium's "Steele Field" was dedicated in honor of the Steele Foundation
on May 3, 2008, prior to a game against Arizona State, for its support of the stadium. The hitting facility at the stadium is named Jack and Rhodine Gifford
Hitting Facility. Gifford was a classmate of Jackie Robinson.
A capacity crowd of 2,613 saw the Bruins defeating the defending National Champions
LSU Tigers
6-3 at the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament
on June 5, 2010. The record of 2,914 fans was set on March 23, 1997 in a game against USC. In 2010, the Bruins ranked 48th in Division I college baseball
in attendance, averaging 1,178 per home game.
The stadium is not the same as the Jackie Robinson
Field at Brookside Park
, next to the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena
, where UCLA
plays its home football
games.
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, U.S., the home field of the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins baseball
UCLA Bruins baseball team represents the University of California, Los Angeles in the NCAA baseball competition. Having started playing in 1920, the team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference and plays its home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It has produced many Major and Minor League...
of the Pac 10 Conference. Opened in 1981, it is the smallest stadium in the conference, with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of just 1,250. It is named after former Bruin baseball player Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, the first African-American professional player of the modern era.
Robinson attended UCLA from 1939-41, after graduating from Pasadena Junior College. He was the first UCLA athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and track. He played in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for ten seasons (1947
1947 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Wrigley Field: American League, 2-1-Other champions:*First College World Series: California...
-56
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
), all with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A statue of Robinson can be found at the entrance to the stadium.
Jackie Robinson Stadium is located off-campus, on the west side of the Interstate 405 (San Diego)
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
freeway, on the grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...
. The stadium's "Steele Field" was dedicated in honor of the Steele Foundation
Steele Foundation
The Steele Foundation is a San Francisco based risk management company specializing in business investigations, consulting solutions and strategic security services...
on May 3, 2008, prior to a game against Arizona State, for its support of the stadium. The hitting facility at the stadium is named Jack and Rhodine Gifford
Jack Gifford (businessman)
John "Jack" F. Gifford was an American engineer and businessman best known as a founder and former CEO, President and Chairman of the Board of Maxim Integrated Products, an analog semi-conductor company, located in Sunnyvale, California...
Hitting Facility. Gifford was a classmate of Jackie Robinson.
A capacity crowd of 2,613 saw the Bruins defeating the defending National Champions
2009 College World Series
The 2009 College World Series began on June 13, and was held through June 24, 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. As part of the 2009 collegiate baseball season, eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to crown a...
LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers baseball
The LSU baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with the other LSU athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference...
6-3 at the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament
2010 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament began on Friday, June 4, 2010 as part of the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 team double elimination tournament concluded with the 2010 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.-National seeds:...
on June 5, 2010. The record of 2,914 fans was set on March 23, 1997 in a game against USC. In 2010, the Bruins ranked 48th in Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
in attendance, averaging 1,178 per home game.
The stadium is not the same as the Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
Field at Brookside Park
Brookside Park/Arroyo Terrace, Pasadena, California
Brookside Park is a major neighborhood in Pasadena, California. Its northern end is sometimes called Arroyo Terrace. It is Pasadena's second largest neighborhood by area, and its second most sparsely populated....
, next to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, where UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
plays its home football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games.
Notable events
- June 4–7, 2010 – Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipNCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipThe NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
- June 4–7, 2010 – Los Angeles Super-Regional of the NCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipNCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipThe NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
- June 3–5, 2011 – Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipNCAA Division I Baseball ChampionshipThe NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
External links
- UCLA Bruins home page - Jackie Robinson Stadium