Kansas man sentenced to prison for theft of bronze Jackie Robinson statue

Ricky Alderete, who stole a bronze Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, Kansas, that was later found burned in a trash can, has been sentenced to about 15 years in prison. Most of the sentence is related to a burglary that occurred shortly after the statue theft. Alderete blamed his actions on a fentanyl addiction. The League 42 youth baseball league, named after Robinson’s Dodgers uniform number, plans to unveil a replacement statue on Monday. After the original statue was stolen, donations poured in, including $100,000 from Major League Baseball. Former Yankees manager Joe Torre and pitcher CC Sabathia are expected to attend the unveiling. The bronze cleats that were left behind when the original statue was stolen are now on display at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Robinson, a legendary baseball player who broke the major leagues’ color barrier, is also remembered as a civil rights icon. Alderete expressed remorse in court and acknowledged his poor decisions fueled by his addiction. The theft of the statue shocked the city of Wichita, but the community rallied to replace it, demonstrating their respect for Robinson’s legacy.

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