Orel Hershiser purchases ‘Grace’ painting featuring Jackie Robinson

A famed piece of artwork depicting Jackie Robinson has a brand new and acquainted proprietor for Jackie Robinson Day, however the portray is staying put within the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas Metropolis.

Dodgers nice Orel Hershiser, the 1988 NL Cy Younger winner and a present broadcaster for the workforce, has bought 10 items of artwork depicting the Dodgers from artist Dave Hobrecht, together with the traditional work “Grace,” which reveals Robinson and fellow Dodgers greats Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe praying round a dinner desk with civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

The portray has been on show on the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum since 2020.

“Dave knowledgeable me of the change of possession of ‘Grace,'” museum president Bob Kendrick mentioned in a information launch. “I used to be so pleased to listen to it was Dodger legend Orel Hershiser. After listening to Orel’s ardour for us and ‘Grace,’ we agreed it was within the good place! ‘Grace’ is a strong and necessary piece that helps convey the Negro Leagues’ significance in serving to advance civil rights on this nation.”

Hershiser had no intention of eradicating the piece.

“This piece of artwork belongs proper the place it’s,” Hershiser mentioned within the launch. “I am honored to be its proprietor. It marks an important historic time, and it is very important maintain this piece the place folks can study this second.”

Whereas the portray honors Robinson and his position within the civil rights motion, the work’s situation provides an fascinating parallel. The portray was broken throughout delivery to the museum in 2020, with its wooden canvas sustaining a crack that precipitated the underside portion to turn into indifferent from the remainder.

Kendrick and Hobrecht reframed the portray, however determined to maintain the canvas because it was.

“Not having a breakable spirit — that is Jackie Robinson,” Kendrick mentioned. “The portray is damaged, however you will not break our spirit. So we determined to unveil it with the injury and that it could be a metaphor that fantastically captures what Jackie was all about.”

As soon as may anticipate an artist to withstand such a factor, however Hobrecht agreed it was a becoming tribute.

“I keep in mind after I heard the portray was damaged in half … I used to be so upset, pissed off … really mad!” Hobrecht mentioned. “I keep in mind flying to Kansas Metropolis to try to contact up ‘Grace’ earlier than the ceremony for Jackie Robinson Day the next afternoon. As soon as I arrived … that anger left. It’s unattainable to not be impressed at The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This place is magical.”