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UCLA Bruins Celebrate Jackie Robinson Day With Iconic Sneakers

The UCLA Bruins baseball team honored Jackie Robinson's legacy with Nike sneakers.

Pat Benson

The Nike Air Max 1 '86 in the 'Jackie Robinson' colorway.
The Nike Air Max 1 '86 in the 'Jackie Robinson' colorway. / @uclabaseball

On Monday, the sports world celebrated the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson. On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke baseball's color barrier with his MLB debut. To celebrate the 77th anniversary of Robinson's historic accomplishment, every player wore Robinson's No. 42 jersey, and many paired it with some amazing custom cleats.

However, one college went above and beyond in celebrating Robinson - his alma mater. The UCLA Bruins athletic department highlighted their most famous four-sport letterman. That's right; Robinson lettered in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball.

UCLA is sponsored by Jordan Brand and Nike, and their official apparel sponsors did not miss the opportunity to suit up their athletes in some unforgettable player-exclusive apparel and footwear. The softball team wore and football team wore special shirts for spring practice, and the baseball team debuted some incredible footwear.

Thanks to the Bruins' social media team, we can see the baseball team received the ultra-rare Nike Air Max 1 '86 in the 'Jackie Robinson' colorway. Additionally, they received some special-edition Nike cleats that sport a navy blue upper and gold detailing.

UCLA is unmatched when it comes to famous alums, but that does not mean they take their rich history for granted. The athletic department put out the following statement, "We honor the legacy of an extraordinary trailblazer, athlete, and activist. Jackie Robinson's impact extends beyond sports, inspiring generations with his courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice."

As always, everything is first class in Westwood. It is great to see student-athletes celebrating legends and doing it in style. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's FanNation Kicks for all your footwear news from the sports world and beyond.

Further Reading: Watch UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice debut player-exclusive Air Jordan 38 sneakers.

Published
Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Kicks On Sports Illustrated. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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