SYRACUSE -- Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson day at big league and minor league ballparks across the country.

It’s an event that occurs annually in Major League Baseball, commemorating and honoring the day Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Baseball first began marking the day as an annual sport-wide event in 2004. Players in the big leagues on all teams will wear Robinson's number 42 on their uniforms.

Here in Syracuse, the Chiefs plan to mark the occasion with a special pre-game ceremony. CNY Central's own Jackie Robinson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Alliance Bank Stadium at 6:45 p.m. Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler, who is providing a police escort from the NBC3 studios, will introduce Jackie - who was the first African American anchor to break the color barrier at NBC3 radio.

Talk Show host George Kilpatrick will give a little history on the Brooklyn Dodger great before the start of the game