Ken Griffey Jr. has been retired from the game of baseball for 11 years, but he continues being inspiration for the game. Before the Pennsylvania-native shared his talented bat with the world, Jackie Robinson cemented Black athletes’ presence in Major League Baseball (MLB). April 24th, Ken Griffey surprises us with the Brooklyn Dodgers-legends with the Nike Air Griffey Max 142”.

This pair is more a versatile take on Griffey Jr.’s signature sneaker, but is deeper in depth revealingly special detailing. Former Seattle Mariner’s own “24” is replaced by Robinson’s “42” on the ankle strap. The same lockdown solution dons one of the pioneer’s most prolific quotes, which has been alluded to throughout the last month given on-going injustice faced by non-Whites in the country: “There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.” Right shoes don a different, yet equally powerful message: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” By commemorating Robinson through his iconic Air Max-cushioned sneaker, Griffey Jr. is furthering his and the legacies of Black players before him.

Enjoy detailed imagery of the commemorative Air Griffey Max 1 here below, as you wait to secure your pair tomorrow, April 24th, via Nike SNKRS.