Magic Johnson and Shohei Ohtani pose for a photo at the LA Dodgers’ loss to the Washington Nationals after the NBA legend gave a touching speech to fans on Jackie Robinson Day

The past and present of Los Angeles sports stars caught up Monday as Lakers legend Magic Johnson and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani posed for a photo together.

Johnson, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, was at Dodger Stadium to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day when they played the Washington Nationals.

Teams around Major League Baseball celebrated the 77th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier on Monday.

The Dodgers paid their own tribute during an afternoon ceremony involving both teams at his statue in Centerfield Plaza.

Every player around the majors wore Robinson’s retired No. 42 on Monday, and fittingly, the crowd at Dodger Stadium was 42,677.

But Johnson also took to the field before the first pitch to talk about Robinson. He received a rapturous reception from those in the crowd.

He said: ‘On behalf of the Dodger ownership group, welcome to Jackie Robinson Day, our great manager Dave Roberts and our great baseball team and all the players of Dodger nation.

‘Jackie was the first black baseball player to play in the major leagues. He was also named rookie of the year in his first year. He won the MVP of the National League. He won a World Series ring.

‘Last but not least, he was not only fantastic on the field, but he was also fantastic off the field. He created the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

‘Through the Jackie Robinson Foundation they have sent many students to college and some of them are here today.

“Everybody in MLB is wearing Jackie’s number 42 today and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind day, not just for the Dodgers, but for Major League Baseball.”

Johnson took the microphone and gave a touching tribute to Robinson before the first pitch

However, Ohtani and the Dodgers struggled on the field and were beaten by the Nationals 6-4

However, it did not turn out to be an exceptional day for the Dodgers on the field.

Mitchell Parker won his major league debut and Luis Garcia Jr. hit a three-run homer, his first of the season, as the Nationals won 6-4.

Parker became the first Nationals pitcher to win his big league debut since Stephen Strasburg in 2010. “Speechless,” Parker said. ‘It is fantastic.’

He allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked none after being called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Rochester.

“After we got that first lap out of the way, it kind of started to become normal,” Parker said.

‘I kept telling myself all day it’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life so try not to overthink any of it.’

Parker struck out 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts to start the game. He then retired Betts, struck out two-time AL MVP Ohtani and got 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman to ground out in order in the third.