NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Candy Digital, a next-generation digital collectible company, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation today announced the release of the Jackie Robinson Collection to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
The first-ever NFT collection developed for Jackie Robinson will feature multiple NFTs that honor him for his courage and many contributions to society. 100% of the net proceeds from sales of the collection on Candy Digital’s primary marketplace will be donated by Candy Digital to the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF), which administers one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for talented minority college students. The donation from Candy Digital will be used to support JRF’s celebrated scholarship program. Purchases are not tax deductible.
Candy Digital’s world-class team of digital artists and designers, through careful research, created a bespoke collection that serves as a tribute to Robinson’s character, and faithfully embodies his likeness. Select NFTs from this collection will be displayed in the Jackie Robinson Museum, which is scheduled to open in mid-July 2022 in New York City and represents an expansion of JRF’s educational mission.
The Jackie Robinson Collection will be available on Candy Digital’s primary marketplace from April 14 at 9:00 AM ET until April 18 at 7:00 PM ET. It will consist of:
- Jackie Robinson Gold Bust: This 1-of-1 edition NFT will feature a Gold Bust of Jackie Robinson and will include his digital signature and a curated video. This will be sold via auction, with a starting price of $50. This NFT will also provide the owner with two tickets to the Grand Opening Gala of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City.
- Jackie Robinson Silver Bust: This NFT will showcase a Silver Bust of Robinson along with his digital signature. Only 100 of these will be produced, each available for $250.
- Jackie Robinson Signed Baseball NFT: The final entry in the series is a Jackie Robinson digitally signed baseball available for $75. This will be sold in an open edition format.
“Jackie Robinson’s accomplishments on and off the field were heroic, and we are humbled to be able to honor his legacy and support the important mission of the Jackie Robinson Foundation with the introduction of the Jackie Robinson NFT Collection,” said Candy Digital’s CEO, Scott Lawin. “In addition to commemorating a historic moment that had an immeasurable impact across sports and our larger society, this collection underscores Candy Digital’s mission to connect fans to baseball’s rich history in innovative ways.”
“As we reflect on the 75th anniversary of our namesake’s iconic achievement, we recognize how important it is for us to embrace the evolving technology to keep pace with the world that the young leaders we serve will navigate and impact,” said Della Britton, President & CEO of JRF. “It’s exciting to witness how the artists and designers at Candy Digital were able to create NFTs that bring Jackie to life so vividly for this generation’s fans, while supporting our critical mission. We are impressed and truly grateful.”
“Jackie Robinson was a true pioneer whose ideals and values continue to live on today beyond our sport,” said April Brown, MLB Vice President, Social Responsibility. “Preserving not only the memory of Jackie Robinson but carrying on his mission is something we take on with a deep amount of pride and responsibility. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of him breaking baseball’s color barrier, this new collection from Candy Digital introduces a new way to honor Jackie and support the Jackie Robinson Foundation.”
The Jackie Robinson Collection represents Candy Digital’s continuing commitment to creating bespoke digital collectibles that deepen the connection between fans and the sports they love. The company’s first-ever digital collectible celebrated another iconic, once-in-a-lifetime player in Lou Gehrig. In June 2021 Candy Digital released a 1-of-1 Lou Gehrig NFT that featured excerpts of his iconic “Luckiest Man” speech and a three-dimensional bust which paid tribute to his legacy as baseball’s “Iron Horse” and raised more than $70,000 for ALS charities.
Additional information and updates can be found on Candy’s official blog at https://mlb.candy.com.
About The Jackie Robinson Foundation
Since 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) has perpetuated the memory of Jackie Robinson by providing generous four-year scholarships and comprehensive support to talented college students with financial need to ensure their success and develop their leadership potential. A new online platform, JRF IMPACT shares JRF’s celebrated “42 Strategies for Success” curriculum with a broader student population, that reached 4300 collegians last year. With the upcoming opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City, JRF will further the Robinson legacy by educating and inspiring the general public around his heroic story and the ideals and values that defined his life. Learn more by visiting jackierobinson.org.
About Candy Digital
Candy Digital is a next generation technology company that designs and develops officially licensed, premium digital collectibles that connect people to their passions.
Candy Digital is Major League Baseball and the Race Team Alliance’s Official Partner for NFTs and Collectibles. Candy operates Major League Baseball’s official NFT ecosystem where fans and collectors are able to purchase, trade, and share officially licensed NFTs to deepen their love of the sport. The company also created Sweet Futures, the first-ever college athlete NFT collectible series that has featured some of the top football and basketball players in the country.
Candy Digital was formed by three executive partners: Michael Rubin, CEO, Fanatics; Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO, Galaxy Digital; and Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor, who, together with its team of world-class digital artists, designers, and technologists are developing a broad range of digital collectibles, beginning with sports and expanding into art, entertainment, music, and more.
