Jackie Robinson’s Legacy Lives On with Ferry Renamed in His Honor

New York Waterway is naming its newest ferry after Jackie Robinson, the baseball icon and civil rights trailblazer. The Jackie Robinson ferry will officially begin service next week.

As first reported by JCityTimes, the 500-passenger ferry will begin running on January 31, helping commuters while the Hoboken PATH station is temporarily closed. The vessel will also serve other transit and excursion routes year-round.

To celebrate the ferry’s launch, an event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, at 11 a.m. at the Midtown Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. Attendees will include Della Britton, CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and Robinson’s granddaughter, Sonya Pankey. They’ll speak about Robinson’s groundbreaking achievements, both on and off the field, and the foundation’s ongoing mission to inspire future generations.

Robinson’s ties to Jersey City are both historic and groundbreaking. A lesser-known fact about his legendary career is that he broke professional baseball’s color barrier right here in Hudson County. On April 18, 1946, Robinson played his first game in organized baseball at Roosevelt Stadium, suiting up for the Montreal Royals against the Jersey City Giants. That moment marked the start of a career that would redefine sports and challenge segregation in America.

While Roosevelt Stadium has since been demolished, Jackie Robinson’s legacy remains rooted in Jersey City. A statue of him stands tall in Journal Square, reminding residents and visitors of the pivotal role the city played in his journey.

Now, with a ferry named in his honor, Hudson County celebrates Robinson’s legacy once again.