Department of Defense removed a story about his military service from the government website as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to purge DEI programs (diversity, equality and inclusion).

The story was returned to the website after a public backlash.

That makes Tuesday’s recognition of Robinson throughout baseball even more important, Abdul-Jabbar said.

“I think it’s absolutely important,” he said. “Trump wants to get rid of DEI. And I think it’s just a ruse to discriminate. So I’m glad that we do things like this, to let everybody in the country know what’s important. They also tried to get rid of (abolitionist and social activist) Harriet Tubman. But that didn’t work. There was just uproar about that. But you have to take that into consideration when we think about what’s going on today.”

MLB’s post on its official website Tuesday also made some notable changes in discussing Jackie Robinson Day. The phrase “color barrier” as well as the word “racism” were not included this year (MLB commissioner Rob Manfred last month said MLB is “evaluating” its DEI programs while citing the need to comply with potential future interpretations of civil rights law).

“For me, I think the truth is that Jackie did break the color barrier,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked about the changes. “There were white people that were playing the game of Major League Baseball, and he was the first man of color to play Major League Baseball. Literally, that is breaking the color barrier, and the way I view it. I don’t know the reason behind it (MLB’s changes). I really don’t. But for me, I do think that there were a lot of racists. The way he was treated was racist, it was wrong, and I do believe he broke the color barrier.”

One of only two black managers in MLB (along with Angels manager Ron Washington), Roberts said there is a need for “a continued wakeup call” about racism in America.

“This is not a one-day situation,” Roberts said. “It’s Jackie Robinson’s day for breaking the color barrier, but this is like an everyday sort of mindset, appreciation.”

The Dodgers were criticized by some for visiting President Trump at the White House in the midst of the DEI purge and the removal of Robinson’s bio from the DOD website. But Roberts said celebrating Robinson is a separate issue.

“I don’t personally view it as talking out of both sides of our mouth,” he said. “I understand how people feel that way. But I do think that supporting our country, staying unified, aligned, is what I believe in personally. I just believe in doing things the right way and I think people are going to have their opinions on what we did last week but I do know that we all stand unified and we all have different stories and backgrounds and economic, political beliefs. But I was proud that we all stood together.”

MOTA suffers STROKE

Dodgers legend Manny Mota was hospitalized after suffering a stroke Monday.

According to the team, the 87-year-old Mota is recovering and is “responsive to commands and resting comfortably.”

Mota’s son, Jose, is a member of the Dodgers’ broadcast. He said Manny had a blood clot removed and has responded well. He could be released from the hospital soon to recover at home.

Mota spent 20 seasons in the big leagues, including 13 with the Dodgers, where he was an All-Star in 1973 and one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball history. When he retired, he held the record for the most career pinch hits (a record that has since been broken). He has been a coach and broadcaster with the Dodgers as well.