League 42 director Bob Lutz (far right) addressed the 80-person crowd gathered at the Jackie Robinson Pavilion at McAdams Park on Saturday morning. Roses and a note reading “We Miss You” were placed where a statue of Jackie Robinson once stood. Thieves cut down and stole the $75,000 bronze statue of Robinson from the League 42 facility at McAdams Park early Thursday morning. Jaime Green The Wichita Eagle
Marcus Jones walked up to League 42 founder and CEO Bob Lutz and handed him $2 of his allowance during a freezing-temperature gathering Saturday morning at McAdams Park.
“Because the statue is really my favorite,” said the seven-year-old. “It’s a baseball thing.”
Jones is a league signing for the first time this season.
The league, which primarily targets inner-city and low-income youth, has already registered its maximum of 600 children for this summer.
This week, the league made national headlines, including from ESPN and the Washington Post, for suffering a loss — its iconic Jackie Robinson statue was cut off at the feet and hauled away in a truck early Thursday morning.
Robinson, who wore number 42, was the first black player to break the color barrier in 1947, playing in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The league is named after him. It took years of work before the league received approval to create and install the statue in 2021. It is valued at $75,000.
The 300 to 400 pound bronze statue had its feet cut off, which have now also been removed. Roses with a card reading “We Miss You” were placed on the platform where the statue once stood in McAdams Park.
Lutz told about 80 people who braved the cold Saturday morning that the statue would be back in that spot, whether because the old one popped up or a new one was built.
“It’s a death in the family,” he said.
A reward of $2,500 has been offered for information leading to an arrest, and an additional $5,000 if the statue is recovered. Forbearance was offered in case the thieves returned the statue soon.
Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111 turn around. Callers can remain anonymous with Crime Stoppers.
Police Chief Joe Sullivan, who attended Saturday's meeting, told people “don't give up hope yet” and said his investigators had some “significant leads.” Police have released images and observations of the theft.
Sullivan, who came to Wichita after serving as chief of the Philadelphia Police Department, said someone he had a connection with in Philadelphia pledged $10,000 to help repair the original statue or build a new one .
Lutz said he doesn't yet know how much money has been raised. If you would like to donate online, you can contact shorturl.at/dgAWZ.
A man handed Lutz a check Saturday and said, “You know we love you…you do great things.”
This story was originally published on January 27, 2024, 12:48 p.m.
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Michael Stavola covers breaking news at The Wichita Eagle. He was a finalist for the prestigious Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2022. He also won multiple national, regional and state awards during his more than seven years at Kansas newspapers. He completed his MBA at Wichita State University in spring 2020.