Jackie Robinson: Beyond Baseball Event Explores Icon’s Pasadena Youth

Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/30/2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location
Jackie Robinson Community Center

Category(ies)

• Recreation

Photograph of Jackie Robinson at the White House, circa 1957 (Photo by White House photographer Abbie Rowe)

The City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Pasadena Public Library are inviting the public to celebrate the 107th birthday of famed baseball player and civil rights activist Jackie Robinson at a special community event.

The “Jackie Robinson: Beyond Baseball” event will take place Friday, Jan. 30, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, located at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103.

The fun and interactive program will be led by Library Technician Tiffany Dueñas and Pasadena History Librarian Young Phong. Attendees will explore Robinson’s childhood in Pasadena, the sports he played and loved before baseball, and lesser-known moments from his early life. Using a “myth versus fact” format, the program aims to introduce participants to Jackie Robinson in a new and engaging way.

The event will also feature a self-guided tour of the Jackie Robinson baseball exhibition, and birthday treats will be available for attendees. The program is recommended for those ages 9 and older.

For more information about the event or to request a disability-related accommodation, the public may call the Jackie Robinson Community Center at (626) 744-7300.

Jackie Robinson lived in Pasadena from 1922 to 1947, where he learned to play sports and developed the athletic talents that would define his career. He attended John Muir High School, excelling in baseball, football, track, and basketball, before continuing his education at UCLA. Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Throughout his life, he was also a key contributor to the Civil Rights Movement and later became Vice President of a major American corporation.

The Jackie Robinson Community Center, named in honor of the trailblazer, is located in the neighborhood where he grew up and was dedicated in his name on June 2, 1974.