Jackie Robinson Day is a traditional event which is celebrated annually on April 15 in North American Major League Baseball (MLB), commemorating and honouring the day Jackie Robinson, the first black MLB player, made his major league debut in 1947. Celebrated at MLB ballparks, on that one day, all players, coaches, and managers on both teams, and the umpires, wear Robinson's uniform number, 42. April 15 was Opening Day in 1947, Robinson's first season in the major leagues.

Some 60 FABIans, representing at least 11 nationalities, gathered at the University of Pretoria’s LC de Villiers sports campus on the afternoon of 15 April to celebrate this day with an informal game of baseball and singing the unofficial anthem of North American Baseball ‘Take me out to the ball game’ before enjoying some (South African interpretations) of the traditional Baseball game fare of hotdogs, Cracker Jack and a beer. This tradition was started in 2023 when avid baseball fans David Johnson and Prof. Anne Pringle (who were visiting FABI on a 12-month sabbatical) organised the first Jackie Robinson Day celebration. David had presented a talk at the FABI Monday Morning Meeting about Robinson’s life and barrier-breaking baseball career and then organised for several boxes of Cracker Jack to be sent from America for FABIans to enjoy on the day. They also made a banner that they donated to FABI that will be displayed at every year’s celebration.

A big thank you to David Johnson, Prof. Anne Pringle and FABI for sponsoring the eats and drinks and to Dr Neriman Yilmaz and her team for all the hard work and preparation in making the event such a success.