An American Game, an American Hero, and an American Response!

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Three weeks ago three men pulled onto a baseball diamond at a park in Wichita, Kansas, cut a life-sized, bronze statue of baseball great Jackie Robinson off at the ankles, put it in the back of their pickup truck, and then drove off into the night.  The statue was a focal point for a baseball league of disadvantaged youth called League 42 - so named in honor of Robinson's uniform number 42 which he wore during his decade with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Wichita Police announced yesterday that one of the three men who were seen on security camera video removing the statue has been arrested, a 45-year-old male named Ricky Alderete, and they said that they anticipate the arrest of the other two people who participated in the desecration of the ballpark and the theft of the statue as well in the near future.  Police further indicated that some other individuals may have had involvement in the incident after-the fact.

Police found parts of the statue in a burn barrel at a nearby park, and they have also located and are in possession of the pickup truck used in the crime.

Mr. Alderete has been charged with felony theft (an item of over $25,000 in value), aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft, and making false information.

There was originally some thought that the theft of the statue of Robinson, a civil rights icon who broke the color barrier in professional baseball, could have been a hate crime, a crime based on his race and history with the civil rights movement in America.  Wichita police now believe, however, that the criminals were motivated by greed.  They wanted to melt the bronze statue down and sell it for scrap.

The community, and indeed the country, has rallied to support the kids of Wichita as they deal with the loss of their important point of pride.  Reports indicate that donations of nearly $300,000 have poured into the league to support the young players and the replacement of the statue of Jackie Robinson.   Additionally, several major league baseball teams and individual players wanted to be a part of the effort, and Major League Baseball has said that their organization will pay for the statue's replacement.  The extra money that has come in will be used for repairs and upgrades to the host park and its athletic facilities.

The original bronze statue cost $50,000 to create and cast, and officials placed its current value at $75,000.  The artist who made it has since died, but the original mold still exists and a firm in Colorado will cast the replacement.  

All of those involved in this quick resolution of the crime and the rapid response to getting a statue of Jackie Robinson back in the local ballpark should certainly be proud of their efforts!  It's an American game, an American hero, and an American response!

Salute!