Engraved into the rotunda’s floor and etched into its archways are the nine values that Robinson lived by: Courage, excellence, persistence, justice, teamwork, commitment, citizenship, determination and integrity.
   The entrance also features an eight-foot sculpture of Robinson’s number 42, which was retired in 1997 in perpetuity for all teams by Major League Baseball. During all games on April 15, players wore number 42 on their uniforms in honor of the former Dodger star.
   That is the date in 1947 when Robinson started with the Dodgers as the first African-American player, integrating Major League Baseball.
   “The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is a stunning space and a superb tribute to Jack’s enduring legacy,” said Rachel Robinson, his widow. “It is my hope that as people of all ages pass through the rotunda, it will evoke their most cherished memories as well as serve as an inspiration to young people who we hope will share the values and ideals by which Jack lived.”
   Taking part in the ceremony were Robinson’s two surviving children, Sharon, vice chairwoman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and David, a founder of a coffee collective in Tanzania. They were joined by Gov. David Paterson, Sen. Charles Schumer and other elected officials.
   The man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball was born in 1919 in Georgia to a family of sharecroppers. Because of his athletic prowess, he was able to attend UCLA, where he was a standout in four sports: Baseball, basketball, football and track.
   He served two years in the Army and one season in the Negro Baseball League before joining the Dodgers. Team President Branch Rickey received threats for hiring Robinson, a highly controversial move in the 1940s. Opposing teams, especially the Philadelphia Phillies, yelled epithets at him and even some Dodger players balked at playing with him.
   But Rickey, Robinson and manager Leo Durocher held their ground. Durocher told his players he’d rather fire them than get rid of Robinson. Rickey advised Robinson not to lose his temper over the heckling, which added to his dignity as a player.
   When fans starting harassing him, Dodger shortstop and team captain Pee Wee Reese put his arm around Robinson as a show of support.
   At the end of his first year, Robinson was named National League rookie of the year and two years later was selected the league’s most valuable player of the year.
   Robinson retired in 1957 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He died 10 years later.