Honoring Jackie Robinson’s Enduring Legacy: A Conversation With Ebbets' Sunny Chang

Jackie Robinson didn't just change baseball — he changed America.

In 1947, he became the first Black player in the MLB. His courage and resilience went far beyond the baseball diamond. Robinson was not only a multi-sport athlete but an Army lieutenant who challenged segregation in the military and an unapologetic advocate for civil rights. His impact was and remains monumental in the sports and civil rights conversation. Time has shown us that history left in the wrong hands is fragile, and Robinson's legacy has been challenged in recent years. On Tuesday, March 15, 2025, the Trump administration and the Department of Defence came under fire for scrubbing a 2021 article detailing Robinson's military career before being drafted to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The removal was reversed the next day, but the act shows that the contribution of influential Black figures hangs in the balance under the Trump administration's "war on DEI."

Ebbets Field Flannels is paying tribute to the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson and the many untold stories of the Negro Leagues. Founded over 37 years ago Ebbets Field Flannels has a long history of bringing to light the unsung heroes and teams in baseball history. Ebbets Field, the Brooklyn stadium where Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, remains central to the brand’s identity and the corner stone of the brands identity.

With stories like Robinson’s hanging in the political balance, Ebbets Field is stepping up to preserve and honor his legacy. Their newly imagined first season drop celebrating Jackie Robinson is not only paying tribute to an American hero but ensuring that the history of the Negro Leagues and Black baseball remains alive for a new generation to discover.

I sat down with Sunny Chang, head designer at Ebbets Field Flannels, to discuss how the brand approached this special project and why getting it right mattered. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Capturing Jackie’s Legacy Beyond Baseball

Stephanie Tharpe: Jackie Robinson's impact goes far beyond baseball. How did Ebbets approach capturing both his athletic legacy and his broader cultural significance in this collection?

Sunny Chang: Ebbets has been around for 37 years, and the brand has always associated itself with Ebbets Field — the stadium where Jackie Robinson debuted in 1947. What’s powerful about this is how the brand connects that pivotal moment in history with everything that came before it. Before Jackie’s integration into Major League Baseball, there was a whole world within the Negro Leagues that didn’t get its due recognition.

Our founder, Jerry Cohen, made it his mission to spotlight these defunct teams like the Homestead Grays and the Black Yankees and give them new life through authentic reproductions. Jerry even outfitted the minor league and Negro League teams for the movie 42. So when we set out to create this collection, it wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about layering this history onto something wearable without losing the story’s integrity.

Stephanie Tharpe: Why was it important for Ebbets Field Flannels to create a Jackie Robinson capsule collection?

Sunny Chang: This collection means a lot to us because Jackie Robinson is literally part of Ebbets Field’s DNA. He broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier right there at Ebbets Field. That moment changed the game — and America — forever. It was one of those defining moments in history. But what a lot of people don’t always talk about is that there were so many incredible players in the Negro Leagues before Jackie got that opportunity. Our brand was built to tell those stories — the ones that history books overlooked.

Jackie didn’t just make history for himself, he carried the hopes and dreams of so many others who never got their shot. We wanted to honor that legacy in a way that felt intentional and meaningful, not just a quick release to mark the date. And on top of that, we’ve been working closely with the Jackie Robinson Foundation and his granddaughter Sonya for a while now, so this wasn’t just business for us — it was personal.

Designing with Respect, Research, and Responsibility

Stephanie Tharpe: How did you approach the research and design process for this collection?

Sunny Chang: Every time we start a project at Ebbets, we lead with research. It’s not just about slapping logos on shirts. We really dive deep — looking at vintage uniforms, old logos, typography, color palettes, and materials to make sure what we’re creating is authentic to the time.

For this collection, we worked hand-in-hand with Sonya and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which was invaluable. They gave us access to resources, insights, and context that helped us get the details right. Whether it was deciding on the correct font for the Monarchs script or making sure the shade of blue on a Dodgers cap matched what Jackie wore — everything mattered. It wasn’t about making something trendy, it was about making something true to his legacy.

We didn’t want to just rely on what’s already out there. A lot of vintage baseball history, especially from the Negro Leagues, hasn’t been well-documented. So it took extra care and intention to gather those references and make sure the storytelling behind each piece was both historically accurate and emotionally resonant.

The Power of Cross-Cultural Connection

Stephanie Tharpe: As an Asian American designer, what was it like to engage with this history — especially considering the long, interconnected history between Black and Asian communities in America?

Sunny Chang: That was something I was super aware of throughout this process. I’m not Black, and I’ll never pretend to fully understand what that experience is like — especially in the context of what Jackie Robinson went through. But as a person of color, I do understand what it feels like to fight for recognition, to push against stereotypes, and to want to see your community’s stories told with care and respect.

There’s also this complex and sometimes difficult history between Black and Asian American communities, and for me, this project was a way of showing up with humility and solidarity. I wanted to be sure that I was listening more than I was speaking, collaborating rather than leading, and centering Jackie’s story — not my own perspective.

Working with Sonya and the Foundation helped keep us grounded in that. It wasn’t just about making a product — it was about creating a tribute that honored Jackie and the people who came before and after him. I was constantly asking myself, “Are we doing this with integrity? Are we respecting the weight of this story?” I think that’s what made this project so meaningful to me personally.

Stephanie Tharpe: What design philosophy guided the capsule collection?

Sunny Chang: The philosophy was about blending authenticity with wearability. We wanted people to feel like they were wearing a piece of history, but also something they’d be proud to rock today. So we incorporated actual scripts, logos, and colorways from Jackie’s time with the Kansas City Monarchs and Brooklyn Dodgers.

It wasn’t just about making something that looked “vintage.” We wanted it to feel like a modern tribute that could spark conversations. Every design choice — from the typography to the fabric selection — was intentional. It was about celebrating where we’ve been, while reminding people that the fight for equity and recognition is ongoing.

Our hope was that when someone wears a piece from this collection, they’re not just wearing a shirt or cap — they’re carrying a story with them, and maybe even inspiring someone else to learn more about Jackie and the players who paved the way.

Surprising Lessons from the Negro Leagues

Stephanie Tharpe: In doing this project, what’s something about Jackie Robinson that stood out to you in a new way?

Sunny Chang: Honestly, what blew me away was just how multi-dimensional Jackie was. Before I started working on this collection, like a lot of people, I primarily thought of him as a baseball icon. But through the research and conversations with the Foundation, I realized how much more there was to his story.

He was a four-sport athlete at UCLA, which is wild when you think about it — excelling in track, football, basketball, and baseball at a time when opportunities for Black athletes were so limited. He also served in the military, where he stood up against racial discrimination long before he even set foot on a Major League field.

After baseball, he continued to fight for civil rights, spoke out against injustice, and was a successful businessman. He carried an incredible amount of responsibility on his shoulders — being the “first” meant he had to be perfect just to be accepted, and even then he endured so much hate and pressure.

That resilience and grace, while still standing firm in his values, really stuck with me. It made me realize that Jackie wasn’t just a baseball hero — he was an American hero, period. And his story is as relevant today as it was back then.

Stephanie Tharpe: Is there anything in particular about the Negro Leagues you learned while researching for this collection that left a lasting impression on you?

Sunny Chang: Absolutely. When I joined Ebbets, I visited the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York. You walk in knowing Jackie was a great ballplayer, but you leave understanding he was a once-in-a-generation person. He excelled at everything — track, football, basketball. He was a military officer who stood up against segregation. After retiring, he created businesses and led initiatives that uplifted his community.

The more you dig, the deeper it gets. The Negro Leagues weren’t just a baseball alternative — they were a cultural cornerstone. The stories, the resilience, the joy — these leagues gave Black communities a sense of pride and belonging at a time when they were denied so much. That richness and depth of history humbled me as a designer and as a person.

Stephanie Tharpe: What do you hope people take away from this collection?

Sunny Chang: I hope people realize that Jackie Robinson’s impact goes so far beyond baseball. He wasn’t just an athlete — he was a leader, a civil rights advocate, a businessman, and a symbol of resilience.

If this collection can inspire even one person to dig a little deeper, to learn about Jackie’s life outside of those famous highlight reels, or to explore the history of the Negro Leagues, then we’ve done our job.

More than that, I hope it reminds people how powerful representation is, and how important it is to preserve and amplify these stories — especially in a time when history can sometimes be forgotten or rewritten. Jackie Robinson’s legacy is bigger than baseball, and it’s on all of us to keep it alive.

By preserving Jackie Robinsins legacy as a athlete, soldier, activist and businessman; Ebbets is helping to push back against erasure of American history, so that it lives on forever.

This collection isn’t just about clothing. It’s about cultural memory.