| A Handshake for the Century | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Marc Mellon |
| Year | 2021 (2021) |
| Subject | |
| Dimensions | 7 ft (2.1 m) (height) |
| Location | Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°5′47.8″N80°38′59.6″W / 41.096611°N 80.649889°W /41.096611; -80.649889 |
A Handshake for the Century is a bronze statue located inYoungstown, Ohio. The statue commemorates a handshake betweenAfrican American baseball playerJackie Robinson of theMontreal Royals and his white teammateGeorge Shuba, a native of Youngstown. Created by sculptor Marc Mellon, it was unveiled in 2021, seventy-five years after it occurred.[1]
The statue depicts a moment from April 18, 1946, the day Robinson became the firstAfrican-American baseball player to break into "organized professional baseball" in the 20th century. The game was against theJersey City Giants atRoosevelt Stadium inJersey City, New Jersey. After grounding out in his first at-bat, he hit a three-runhome run in his second. Shuba, who followed Robinson in the lineup, shook Robinson's hand as he crossed home plate. The image of Robinson's and Shuba's handshake became an iconic moment in baseball history.[2]
Initially meant to be unveiled on the anniversary itself, the unveiling was delayed due toCOVID-19 restrictions. It finally took place on July 17, 2021. Amongst the speakers was Shuba's son Mike. The statue was funded with the help of public donations.[3]
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