What is Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball and why is it always on April 15?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jackie Robinson’s legacy is being celebrated around the major leagues on Tuesday, with the day named for the first Black baseball player of the modern era and marking the 78th anniversary of his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Robinson's historic achievement preceded President Harry S. Truman's desegregation of the military in 1948. Robinson served in the Army for two years before his pro baseball career.

He made a cultural impact not only through his success on the field. His character and his belief in nonviolence in the face of harassment by fans and racist attitudes among some of his fellow players won Robinson widespread respect and admiration. After his career ended, Robinson campaigned for civil rights, was active in politics and spoke out about baseball's lack of minority managers and personnel at MLB headquarters.

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me,” he said. “All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

On opening day this year, 6.2% of MLB players were Black, up from 6% in 2024 and the first year-over-year improvement since 2018, according to MLB.com.

It's the day every year that Major League Baseball honors Robinson. His debut on April 15, 1947, ended 80 years of segregation in the sport. It's celebrated at every major league park hosting games that day. It was first held in 2004.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson broke baseball's color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers at the relatively advanced age of 28. Until the team signed him, Black players had been relegated to the Negro Leagues since the 1880s.

Born in Georgia, Robinson grew up in Pasadena, California, where his family encountered racism and his brother, Mack, could only find work as a street sweeper after winning a silver medal behind Jesse Owens in the 200 meters at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Robinson participated in football, baseball, basketball and track at Pasadena Junior College and UCLA, where he became a star football player for the Bruins. Robinson's name and likeness now adorns various sites around Pasadena, including the historic Rose Bowl.

He played 10 years with the Dodgers, earning the Rookie of the Year award in 1947, was a six-time All-Star and became the first Black player to win National League Most Valuable Player award in 1949. He played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 championship team. He was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility. Robinson died at age 53 of a heart attack in 1972. He's buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.

A Department of Defense webpage describing Robinson’s military service was restored last month after it was missing. Pages honoring a Black Medal of Honor winner and Japanese American service members were taken down, which the Pentagon said was a mistake. The Defense Department has been removing online content singling out contributions by women and minority groups, which President Donald Trump's administration considers to be diversity, equity and inclusion.

Robinson wore No. 42 during his playing days with the Dodgers. In 2009, every player, manager and coach began wearing the number to honor Robinson, which can make identifying them confusing. The umpires also wear the number, the only one universally retired by all major league teams.

The date marks the anniversary of Robinson's debut in 1947. It was also opening day in baseball that season. He started at first base and went 0 for 3, but reached base on an error and scored the winning run in a 5-3 victory over the Boston Braves in Brooklyn.

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Former NBA basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar prepares to speak to members of the Los Angeles Dodgers to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

People gather at Dodger Stadium to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, hugs members of the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium during an event to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals team members arrive to celebrate Jackie Robinson Tribute Day before a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE - Ayo Robinson, the granddaughter of baseball great Jackie Robinson, pauses next to a sculpture of her grandfather on Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE - Brooklyn Dodgers' infielder Jackie Robinson is photographed on April 18, 1948. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Brooklyn Dodgers' Jackie Robinson safely steals home plate under the tag of New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra as pinch-hitter Frank Kellert looks on in the eighth inning of the World Series opener at New York's Yankee Stadium, Sept. 28, 1955. (AP Photo/John Rooney, File)

FILE - Baseball Player Jackie Robinson with the Montreal Royals club at Sanford, Fla., March 4, 1946. (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis, File)

SAN FRANCISCO DE YARE, Venezuela (AP) — As Venezuelan detainee Diógenes Angulo left a prison in San Francisco de Yare after a year and five months behind bars, his family appeared to be in shock.

He was detained two days before the 2024 presidential election after he posted a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez.

As he emerged from the jail in San Francisco de Yare, approximately an hour's drive south of the capital Caracas, he learned that former President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces Jan. 3 in a nighttime raid in the capital.

Angulo told The Associated Press that his faith gave him the strength to keep going during his detention.

“Thank God, I’m going to enjoy my family again,” he said, adding that others still detained “are well” and have high hopes of being released soon.

Families with loved ones in prison gathered for a third consecutive day Saturday outside prisons in Caracas and other communities, hoping to learn of a possible release.

On Thursday, Venezuela ’s government pledged to free what it described as a significant number of prisoners.

But as of Saturday, only 11 people had been released, up from nine a day prior, according to Foro Penal, an advocacy group for prisoners based in Caracas. Eight hundred and nine remained imprisoned, the group said. It was not immediately clear if Ángulo’s release was among the 11.

A relative of activist Rocío San Miguel, one of the first to be released and who relocated to Spain, said in a statement that her release “is not full freedom, but rather a precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty.”

Among the prominent members of the country’s political opposition who were detained after the 2024 presidential elections and remain in prison are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, former governor Juan Pablo Guanipa, and Perkins Rocha, lawyer for opposition leader María Corina Machado. The son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González also remains imprisoned.

One week after the U.S. military intervention in Caracas, Venezuelans aligned with the government marched in several cities across the country demanding the return of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The pair were captured and transferred to the United States, where they face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.

Hundreds demonstrated in cities including Caracas, Trujillo, Nueva Esparta and Miranda, many waving Venezuelan flags. In Caracas, crowds chanted: “Maduro, keep on going, the people are rising.”

Acting president Delcy Rodríguez, speaking at a public social-sector event in Caracas, again condemned the U.S. military action on Saturday.

“There is a government, that of President Nicolás Maduro, and I have the responsibility to take charge while his kidnapping lasts ... . We will not stop condemning the criminal aggression,” she said, referring to Maduro’s ousting.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media: “I love the Venezuelan people and I am already making Venezuela prosperous and safe again.”

After the shocking military action that overthrew Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would govern the South American country and requested access to oil resources, which he promised to use “to benefit the people” of both countries.

Venezuela and the United States announced Friday that they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations, broken since 2019, and the reopening of their respective diplomatic missions. A mission from Donald Trump’s administration arrived in the South American country on Friday, the State Department said.

Amid global anticipation over the fate of the South American country, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil responded to Pope Leo XIV, who on Friday called for maintaining peace and “respecting the will of the Venezuelan people.”

“With respect for the Holy Father and his spiritual authority, Venezuela reaffirms that it is a country that builds, works, and defends its sovereignty with peace and dignity,” Gil said on his Telegram account, inviting the pontiff “to get to know this reality more closely.”

Police patrol near El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Narwin Gil cries as she waits for news of her detained sister, Marylyn Gil, outside El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Police patrol near El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A relative embraces Diogenes Angulo after his release from prison in San Francisco de Yare, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Angulo had been detained two days before the 2024 presidential election. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)