MLB The Show 23 Jackie Robinson Day Celebration – PlayStation.Blog

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball during the modern era. A true trailblazer in many areas, including sports, media, and the civil rights movement.  

Jackie stood for class, the love of the game, and equality. He was a powerful force of positive change that changed the landscape of sports and the world today.   

As has been tradition each season since 2004, MLB will celebrate the anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historic MLB debut as he broke baseball’s color barrier throughout the league on April 15, 1947.

In partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, The Players Association, and Major League Baseball you can purchase the Jackie Robinson Foundation Charity Pack ($4.99 USD, from April 14, 2023 through April 29, only on US digital platform stores where MLB The Show is sold). PlayStation and San Diego Studio will donate 100% of the proceeds* from this pack after store platform fee deductions are applied to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. These donations will continue to support the JRF/PlayStation-MLB The Show Scholars Program to help reduce the achievement gap in higher education. 

Your purchase of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Charity Pack grants you: 5,000 Stubs, Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) bat skins, Jackie Robinson Day profile icon and a Jackie Robinson profile banner icon for use in MLB The Show 23

Jackie Robinson played a pivotal role in societal change as a champion of racial equality and social justice. In turn, the Jackie Robinson Foundation continues that legacy as one of the best scholarship and leadership development programs for students from underrepresented groups for the past 50 years.  

We’re now in our third year of this groundbreaking partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. We’d like to introduce you to our first cohorts of JRF/PlayStation MLB The Show Scholars:

Kevin Evans 

Cedar Hill, Texas

University of Texas at Austin

Computer Science

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated in the top 1% of his class
• Academic Awards – English Literature and Physics
• National Honor Society, President
• Student Council, Vice President
• UT Austin Computer Science Academy – provided C++ coding for use in projects throughout the UT system
• Roblox Studios, Game Programmer – designed and implemented game in LUA language, managed player data
• Mayor’s Teen Council of Cedar Hill, Vice President 

Asim Arnold 

Dacula, Georgia

Georgia Institute of Technology

Computer Engineering

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated with a 4.0 cumulative GPA
• Completed coursework for college credit
• AP Scholar
• National Honor Society
• Future Business Leaders of America
• Donate: Code – provided volunteer computer coding services and instruction 
• Amnesty Decoders – assisted Amnesty International researchers by volunteering technology skills for human rights-related research 

Dominic Bruce-Moore

Springfield, Massachusetts 

Northeastern University

Communications and Media Studies 

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated in the top 10% of his class with a 3.96 cumulative GPA
• National Honor Society
• Academic Honors – Latin, History, and Music
• Student Council, Vice President
• Student Government Association, Treasurer
• Student Anchors, Peer Tutor
• Sir Golden Ace – created video game content for Twitch gaming platform as well as Youtube

Collin Jones

North Plainfield, New Jersey

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Game and Interactive Media Design

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated with a 3.85 cumulative GPA
• Completed coursework for college credit
• National Honor Society
• National Society of High School Scholars
• Student Council
• Union Catholic High School, Student Ambassador
• Varsity Track & Field 

Lance Rodgers

Oxon Hill, Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

Computer Engineering

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated in the top of his class with a 4.0 cumulative GPA
• Completed coursework for college credit
• National Honor Society
• Earned honors at school science fair multiple times 
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – Junior Chapter, Lead Intern
  • Developed and conducted STEM workshops, led team of six counselors, led workshops and presentations on Roller Coaster Tycoon amusement park simulation game; attended NSBE national conference 

• Varsity Basketball 
• Varsity Soccer 

Daisha Lafford

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

North Carolina A&T University

Computer Graphics

Class of 2026

Select High School Accomplishments:

• Graduated  first in her class class with a 4.0 cumulative GPA
• National Honor Society
• Academic Decathlon, Team Member – competed in state-level competitions every year
• Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Advisory Board Member & Co-Chair of Marketing Committee
• First Stage Theater – Young Company, Actor and Summer Intern – earned first place in national Shakespeare competition
• Link Crew, Freshman Mentor
• Varsity Volleyball

Exposure and the lack of career readiness programming to the industry is one of the biggest hurdles facing underrepresented talent seeking to join the gaming industry. It’s why our partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation is so important. 

We want to realize the power of education and career opportunities and allow for better economic equality and equity. Bringing more diversity into our communities, our products, and our games. We couldn’t be happier to continue our partnership with the JRF and Jackie’s family as we strive to achieve these goals.  

In addition, anyone with MLB The Show 23 and an internet connection can play the Jackie Robinson’s Storyline which sheds more light on Jackie’s illustrious career that started with the Kansas City Monarchs. Upon completion of Jackie’s Storyline, you unlock his Sanford Green Card.  

We’ll also be supercharging the Sanford Greene Jackie Robinson card to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day.  

MLB The Show 23 is available now on PS5 and PS4.

*PlayStation will donate 100% of the proceeds (minimum of $3.49 USD per pack) sold will be donated. To (See console’s online stores for details) the JRF Foundation after store platform fee deductions are applied. This purchase is not tax deductible.