Robinson Rotunda Unveiled
BY DAN MILLER

Standing in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field during the rotunda's unveiling on Tuesday, April 15 are (l. to r.): New York Mets Manager Willie Randolph, Borough President Helen Marshall, Fred Wilpon, Mets chairman of the board and CEO, Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Eric Eve, Citigroup senior vice president of global community relations, Edward Skyler, New York City deputy mayor for operations, and Omar Minaya, Mets executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager. The unveiling, which took place before the scheduled Mets-Brewers game, marked the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. Citi Field, the new home of the Mets, is scheduled to open in April 2009. The Mets' present home, Shea Stadium, can be seen through the rotunda's columns.

On April 15, better known as Income Tax Due Day, and in Major League Baseball officially known as Jackie Robinson Day/Night, the ownership of the New York Mets teamed up with Citi executives and Rachel Robinson, widow of the ball player who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier 61 years ago and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Della Britton Baeza, Jackie Robinson Foundation president and CEO, Omar Minaya, Mets general manager, Willie Randolph, Mets manager, and Borough President Helen Marshall to unveil the designs, images and text for the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field at a 1 p.m. press conference in the Shea Stadium Diamond Club.

The press conference concluded in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field, the Mets' new ballpark, opening in 2009. The purpose of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field will be to educate and inform fans about this American icon's humanitarian legacy.

The Mets and the Jackie Robinson Foundation described the nine values that meant so much to Jackie Robinson the ball player and Jackie Robinson the person. They are: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity. These values will have a presence at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field. Engraved in the Rotunda's 160-foot-diameter floor and etched into its 70-foot archways are the larger-than-life images that defined Robinson's nine values as articulated by Sharon Robinson, the ball player's daughter and foundation vice president.

The Mets joined Major League Baseball in its league-wide celebration of Jackie Robinson Day/Night with an on-field pre-game ceremony prior to the Mets' game with the Washington Nationals.