Cleats of stolen Jackie Robinson statue to be donated to Negro League Museum
The bronze cleats that were cut from a Jackie Robinson statue last month will be donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum located in Kansas City, Missouri.
The 275-pound statue was taken from McAdams Park in Wichita, Kansas on Jan. 25, and only its feet were left after thieves dismantled it. Three days later, portions of the statue were found burned after the fire department received calls of a trash can fire at another park.
"We thought it was the absolute right thing to do," League 42 founder and executive director Bob Lutz told ESPN.com. "It's looking like the cleats will be delivered by April 11, definitely before Jackie Robinson Day [April 15]."
McAdams Park is home to League 42, a youth baseball league named for the Hall of Famer's uniform number.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick said a ceremony will take place for the bronze cleats arrival.
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Earlier this month, Wichita police said they arrested 45-year-old Ricky Angel Alderete in the theft, and more arrests would be forthcoming. Alderete is charged with felony theft valued at over $25,000, aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft, and making false information.