Just a year ago, the American giant NIKE paid tribute to the iconic baseball player, Jackie Robinson through a special Dunk Low. The very first black American man to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) is once again honored on the iconic Air Force 1 Low silhouette.
As a reminder, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, aka Jackie Robinson, is a high-profile sportsman who has received numerous accolades. Named rookie of the year in 1947, he also has the title of National League Most Valuable Player in 1949 and All-Star for 6 consecutive seasons, from 1949 to 1954. Also known as a figure in the civil rights, equality and non-violence movement, he paved the way for a whole generation of black athletes in various disciplines to make it to the big leagues. His influence extended beyond the sports field. In the 1960s, the talented baseball player helped establish the Freedom National Bank, a financial institution owned by African Americans in Harlem.
25 years after his death, in 1997, MLB retired his number 42 on all professional teams. Jackie Robinson was the first professional athlete in any sport to be so honored. The Major League has also established a new annual tradition, the “Jackie Robinson Day”: since April 15, 2004, each player of each team wears this famous number 42 in his honor.
The design of this Nike Air Force 1 Low is inspired by the vintage outfits of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the team that marked the player’s debut in the Major League.
It consists of a smooth white leather upper, complemented by a front overlay and a light grey grained leather lace-up area. This base is contrasted by royal blue canvas elements : the side Swoosh, the heel tab and the tongue adorned with the Brooklyn Dodgers ‘B’ logo. To affirm the tribute to the legendary player, the pair features several other unique details. His number ’42’ is embroidered in red on the side heel, red stitching details on the back of the heel mimic baseballs, and ‘Change The World’ printed in black on the white laces evokes Jackie Robinson’s impact in the world of high-level sports. Also, the metallic gold lace dubraes are adorned with special engravings : the year ‘1947’ appears on the right foot and ‘1956’ on the left foot. These dates honor Jackie Robinson’s time in the MLB. The whole is based on a speckled gumsole that adds a vintage side to the model.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low “Jackie Robinson” will be released soon at select retailers and on nike.com, possibly in conjunction with “Jackie Robinson Day” which will be celebrated on April 15, 2023. For the latest official details, stay tuned !
