Five of the Best Black Baseball Players for Winston-Salem 

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In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball have been taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for Winston-Salem.

CECIL COOPER (1971) – Cecil Cooper almost never played in Winston-Salem. Left unprotected by the Boston Red Sox in the 1970 Rule 5 Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals picked him up and tried to mold him for the outfield. At the end of spring training, the Sox bought Cooper back and assigned him to the Class-A Winston-Salem Red Sox. Cooper, frustrated that he was assigned to a level at which he already proved he could play, went on to embarrass Carolina League pitchers in 1971. The 21-year-old slashed .379/.449/.575 in 42 games for Winston-Salem and found himself in Double-A Pawtucket for 98 games that same season. An impressive performance in Rhode Island warranted a late-season big league debut for Cooper, who went on to lead a long career in Major League Baseball. In 16 seasons spent between the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, Cooper posted a career average of .298, mashed 241 home runs and amassed five All-Star selections, two Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, and three Silver Slugger Awards. Cooper spent the prime years of his career in Milwaukee, where he is enshrined on both the American Family Field Walk of Fame and the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor.

TIM ANDERSON (2014) – Tim Anderson was the White Sox’ first round pick in 2013 and put on a show in Kannapolis that same year. He began 2014 with the Dash and put up an impressive .297 batting average, 18 doubles, seven triples and six homers. With 68 games under his belt, a wrist injury stopped Anderson in his tracks, but he healed quickly. The Sox then designated him to Double-A Birmingham, where he remained for the last ten games of the 2014 season. After another year and some change spent between Double-A and Triple-A, Anderson was called up to the big leagues on June 10, 2016. Anderson has hit a stride in recent seasons, earning an American League batting title in 2019, a Silver Slugger award in 2020, and an All-Star selection in 2021. He continues to project as one of the top contributors to the White Sox for the foreseeable future as the team continues the push for the first World Series victory since 2005. Anderson additionally made his mark on baseball history in 2021 by hitting a walk-off home run to give the White Sox a 9-8 victory against the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball’s inaugural Field of Dreams game.

DOUG GLANVILLE (1992) – In 1991, the Chicago Cubs had the 12th pick in the MLB Draft and selected 20-year-old Doug Glanville out of the University of Pennsylvania. The following year, the Cubs sent the young outfielder to their High-A affiliate, Winston-Salem Spirits. Glanville spent all of 1992 in Winston-Salem. Glanville cut his teeth with the Spirits, slashing .258/.318/.336 with four homers and 36 RBI. He began 1993 in High-A ball when the Cubs switched their affiliate to Daytona and was promoted to Double-A Orlando that same year. Glanville made Triple-A in 1994 and shined through the rest of a successful minor league campaign. The Chicago Cubs called him up to the big leagues in 1996. Over the course of a nine-year career, he batted .277 while totaling 333 RBI, 166 2B and 32 3B. Since retiring from baseball in 2004, Glanville has worked as a broadcaster for ESPN and NBC Sports Chicago as well as a sportswriter for several national outlets. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.

LEO DAIGLE (2005) – While Leo Daigle never made the Major Leagues, his 2005 season with the Winston-Salem Warthogs was unforgettable. The San Diego-native first baseman who had never cracked Double-A went on a tear to help the Hogs reach first place in the Carolina League South Division. He slashed .341/.414/.637 while knocking 112 RBI and 29 homers. Daigle’s performance merited a promotion to Triple-A for 32 games near the end of the season. His efforts also landed a Triple Crown, marking the second ever won by a Carolina League player (The first was won by Ray Jablonski, slugger for the Winston-Salem Cardinals in 1951). Daigle was also named Carolina League MVP in 2005. He retired from baseball in 2006, but his time in Winston-Salem is remembered fondly by coaches, teammates, executives, and fans.

JOEL BOOKER (2017-18) – Joel Booker was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 22nd round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The young outfielder found himself in Winston-Salem a couple months into the 2017 season. In 52 games with the Dash, Booker hit a modest .233 with only two homers and 21 RBI. He was sent back down to Kannapolis for the remainder of the season to work on his bat. Booker began the 2018 season in Winston-Salem and looked like a completely different player. He slashed .297/.389/.469 with the Dash and was selected as a Carolina League All-Star. Since his promotion to Birmingham that same season, Booker has never played below Double-A and still holds Major League potential.

A Look at the Top Five Black Players in Barons History

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In recognition of Black History Month and the newly launched MiLB outreach program, The Nine, the Barons, in addition to teams across Minor League Baseball, are highlighting the top five Black players in team history. Birmingham, Alabama’s rich history of baseball dates back to 1885 and has seen many talented and accomplished players pass through on the way to Major League success.

The first four nominees come from a notable chapter of Birmingham’s baseball history, the Birmingham Black Barons, who played for over 40 years alongside their white counterpart from the West End Park known as the “Slag Pile,” to the famous Rickwood Field. The Black Barons played in various iterations of Negro Leagues, from the minor league level Negro Southern League, to a more stable placement in Negro American League, the highest level of Negro League baseball.

At a time predating the civil rights movement and active segregation, the Black Barons saw their own success with the Black community of Birmingham, often drawing larger crowds to Rickwood Field than the Barons. White fans were encouraged to attend Black Barons games, which were held while the Barons were on the road, suggesting a relatively amicable affiliation between the two franchises amid the tenuous racial atmosphere of the time.

The 1948 Black Barons were one of the most successful teams of the Negro Leagues and saw many players drafted by Major League teams following the breaking of the color barrier by Jackie Robinson in 1947. Despite the positive progress of a newly racially integrated league and recognition of player talent regardless of race, this inadvertently resulted in the 1948 Negro World Series between the Birmingham Barons and the Homestead Grays being the last of its kind before the disbandment of the Negro National League.

Certainly one of the most widely recognized players across baseball, Willie Mays began his storied career in 1948 with the Negro minor league Chattanooga Choo-Choos before joining the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League and playing in the final true World Series of the Negro Leagues. At just 16, Mays had not yet graduated high school and juggled Barons home games with high school football. During his time with the Black Barons, from 1948 to 1950, his fielding and speed on the bases caught the attention of several Major League teams, who waited until he had graduated high school before offering him a contract. Mays eventually signed with the New York Giants and went on to have a legendary career that included titles of Rookie of the Year (1951), World Series champion and MVP (1954), numerous recognitions as an All-Star (24 appearances), Gold Glove awards (12) and countless more, culminating in his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.

Another member of the 1948 roster, Rev. Bill Greason has a legacy that extends beyond baseball; just prior to his baseball career, a military enlistment in World War II with the all-Black 66th Supply Platoon put him in the action of the Pacific Theater of the war, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. Greason, a pitcher, played for the Black Barons from 1948 to 1951, before he was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals as the second Black player on their roster in 1954. He retired in 1959 after a handful of years with the Cardinals minor league affiliates. He studied ministry at Birmingham Baptist College and Samford University following baseball and remained engaged with the Birmingham community as a member of the historical 16th Street Baptist Church and a pastor of Bethel Baptist Church.

Lorenzo “Piper” Davis, nicknamed for his hometown of Piper, Alabama, played for the Black Barons beginning in 1942, following a stint in Alabama’s Coal and Iron League. During his time in Birmingham, he was noted for strong fielding, recognized as a versatile player comfortable at any position in the infield with a keen ability to complete double plays. After helping the Black Barons earn consecutive pennants in 1943 and 1944, Davis transitioned to a playing-manager in 1948 and led the team to the Negro League World Series with a young Willie Mays and Bill Greason under his leadership. Davis strongly influenced Mays’ style of playing, notably his field positioning and his approach to hitting curveballs. As Mays was only 16 when he began playing for the Black Barons, Davis ensured his focus was on schoolwork and did not allow him to make road trips with the team during the school year. Following the 1948 Negro League World Series loss, Davis moved between affiliated ball with the Boston Red Sox, the Black Barons, the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League and the Chicago Cubs system. Davis’ career ended at the Double-A level of the Cubs organization in 1958.

While he never reached Major League Baseball like his contemporaries Mays and Greason, his style of leadership and influence certainly played a role in their success. He commanded respect and encouraged his players and teammates to exhibit great character on and off the field. While better known for his baseball skill, Davis was a two-sport athlete, playing for the Harlem Globetrotters for three winters during his tenure with the Barons and also spent significant time in the Latin American winter leagues.

Before Mays, Greason, and Davis, another Negro League legend passed through Birmingham, though briefly, from 1927 to 1930: Leroy “Satchel” Paige. While his reputation as a star pitcher with a tendency to goad opposing batters wasn’t fully exhibited in Birmingham, fans of the Black Barons and beyond were witness to his maturation as a pitcher and the beginnings of his acclaimed career. During his time with the Black Barons, Paige met or broke the strikeout records of major league players, recording 17 strikeouts against the Cuban Stars and 18 strikeouts against the Nashville Elite Giants in the same week of April 1929. Paige, individually, was a draw for crowds and was rented out to other teams by then Barons owner, R.T. Jackson, with equal financial benefit to both parties.

Paige would spend 1930 through 1948 in the Negro Leagues playing with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Kansas City Monarchs, and Philadelphia Stars, among others, in addition to several Latin American league teams. It was during these years that he flourished and was prone to his more outlandish antics, such as pulling his outfielders in to watch as he struck out opposing batters or intentionally walking two batters in order to reach Josh Gibson, a well-known dangerous hitter, with the sole, and eventually successful, goal of striking him out.

He eventually brought his talents to the major league level with the Cleveland Indians in 1948, a season in which he would be the first Black pitcher in the American League, the seventh Black player in the majors overall, the oldest player to debut at 42 years of age, and ultimately a World Series champion. He went on to play briefly for the St. Louis Browns, but his time there was marred by dwindling stats that signaled the decline of his career. After some time with a handful of minor league teams, he played his last game with the Triple-A Portland Beavers at age 55. Four years later, Paige was signed to a one-day contract with Charles O. Finley’s Kansas City A’s, where he was brought onto the field in the fourth inning for a standing ovation and a crowd-led rendition of “The Old Gray Mare.” His place in baseball history was cemented in 1971 with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In addition to signing Satchel Paige, albeit for a single day, Charles O. Finley was also responsible for bringing Reggie Jackson to Birmingham with his signing in 1966. Jackson, with Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi, and Dave Duncan, moved through the A’s system from Modesto and arrived in Birmingham in 1967. He got a taste of the majors with a midseason call up to Kansas City, but was sent back down to the Barons to finish the season after a disappointing debut. Despite the full racial integration of the major leagues by the 1960s, Jackson still faced the challenges of being a Black player in the south and was encouraged and bolstered by Barons coach John McNamara regarding his experiences on and off the field. He started the 1968 season in Oakland, where Finley had relocated the A’s, and helped the team to three straight World Series titles. He continued his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, California Angels, and returned to Oakland for a single season in 1987 to end his professional playing career.

Jackson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993 and had his numbers, 44 and 9, retired by the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics, respectively.

Willie Mays, Bill Greason, Piper Davis, Satchel Paige, and Reggie Jackson are only five of the numerous Black players that have played in Birmingham, each of them with their own unique experience of navigating their playing careers at different points in history and the varying effects of how their race affected their careers. These five paved the way for future Black players who have made their mark on Barons history and will usher in future generations of players to make their own name in the history and tradition of baseball in Birmingham and beyond.

Kannapolis Baseball Black History Month Feature: Micah Johnson

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In honor of Black History month, the Cannon Ballers will highlight former Kannapolis ball players who have not just made a name for themselves on the diamond, but players who have continued to make strides off the field to better others.

Typically, when a professional baseball player’s career ends, the vision for their next journey in life might not be as crystal clear as one would think. However, in Micah Johnson’s case, his future life’s canvas could not be more perfectly painted.

Johnson was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, just 50 miles north of where he attended college in Bloomington, home to the Indiana Hoosiers. After two highly successful seasons in the Big Ten, earning second team All-Big Ten honors, the infielder was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the ninth round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Once he received his promotion to the Intimidators 2013, Johnson tore up the South Atlantic League, putting up one of the most memorable seasons in Kannapolis baseball history. During his 77 games, Johnson slashed .342/.422/.530 at the plate, leading the team in triples (11), stolen bases (61), and walks (40), while also placing in the top five in 13 other offensive categories.

Johnson quickly climbed his way through the Chicago system and by the beginning of the 2015 season, the Indiana native earned a spot on the Opening Day roster for the White Sox, batting ninth and playing second base. Wasting no time at all, he recorded his first MLB hit in his second at-bat that day. Johnson went on to play in 36 games in 2015, batting .230 with 10 runs scored and three stolen bases.

Following his first year at the MLB level, Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with there still being upside to his young career. However, during spring training in 2016, Dodger’s manager Dave Roberts asked a question that quite possibly changed the rest of Johnson’s career focus moving forward. Roberts wanted to know what they like to do in their spare time and for them to share it to the entire team. Not wanting to play the piano in front of everyone, Johnson answered art, sparking a connection with a love that he had never fully committed to.

After just one year in L.A., the Atlanta Braves traded for Johnson before the start of the 2017 season, throwing his baseball journey another curveball. Johnson spent the majority of his time in the minor leagues with both the Dodgers and Braves organizations, surpassing only 25 games played in the majors over the two-year span.

With his baseball career slowly coming to an end after a season with the Durham Bulls in 2018, Johnson decided to shift his focus to art, making the leap and officially retiring from baseball.

The artist began his new career in New Hampshire, learning to express himself on a canvas in an art studio, instead of on a baseball diamond in front of thousands of fans, although, the fans surely came running to Johnson soon again.

“Mom, can astronauts be black?” This powerful quote, spoken by his four-year old nephew, helped shape Johnson’s artwork and mindset.

Johnson’s new mission for his work: Inspire racial equality throughout all demographics, while emphasizing the need for young African-American’s to chase their dreams without limitations.

Johnson’s niche mindset proved successful early, as he began to orchestrate and sell his brilliant artwork by using the fast-growing medium of NFT’s.

On October 28, 2020, the former MLB player unveiled Sä-v(ə-)rən-tē, presenting an astronaut on one side of a closed door in an open field, with two young African-American kids (his nephews) on the other side. Each year, the programmable artwork will see the door open more and more on their birthdays, with fans having the ability to give to Johnson’s nephew’s dreams of achieving anything that they set their mind to. His nephews will share what their future goals are each year, allowing the consumer to fully understand the purpose of this well-thought-out piece of work. Making his work even more unique, all viewers will only be able to give back by the use of Bitcoin.

Following its release, ‘Sä-v(ə-)rən-tē was sold for $120,000 at an auction, making it the second highest sale for an NFT art piece at that time.

After selling his most beloved piece of art, Johnson has since constructed many other depictions of his nephews in an astronaut suit and helmet, with other pictures still gaining a wealth of online traction for their powerful stance on equality needed throughout America.

Johnson continues to push the art boundaries with the help of Art Angels, a Los Angeles based art company that showcases his work. For more information on Johnson, his story, and his work, visit https://www.artangels.net/art/micah-johnson.

Celebrating Black History Month

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for Charlotte Knights.

SAM HORN (1993)

Sam Horn led the power-packed Charlotte Knights with 38 home runs in 1993 — still the most home runs by a player in single-season franchise history. The record has stood for nearly 30 years (the 2023 season will mark the 30th anniversary of Charlotte’s first season as a Triple-A affiliate after previously being a Double-A franchise).

In all, the 6-foot-5 slugger hit .269 with 108 hits, 17 doubles and 96 RBIs in 1993 as a member of the Knights, the Cleveland Indians top affiliate. A 1993 International League All-Star, Horn also led the league in home runs that season and helped guide the Knights to winning the Governors’ Cup in the team’s inaugural year as a Triple-A team. Years later, he was named to the “All Knights Stadium Team” during the team’s final season at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill in 2013.

Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (16th overall) in the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft, Horn finished with 226 home runs over a 15-year Minor League Baseball career. Horn spent parts of eight seasons in the majors with Boston (1987-89), Baltimore (1990-92), Cleveland (1993) and Texas (1995). He compiled 62 home runs in the majors and 179 RBIs in 389 games played.

BILLY McMILLON (1996-1997)

As a member of the Charlotte Knights in 1996, Billy McMillon took home International League Rookie of the Year honor after leading the league in batting average with an impressive .352 mark. For the season, he finished with 122 hits, 72 runs scored, 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI en route to his first of three All-Star nods. He returned to the Knights a season later and became just the second player in Knights history to hit three home runs in a game. McMillon was named to the “All Knights Stadium Team” in 2013 during the team’s final season at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill.

Originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in the eighth round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft, McMillon excelled at Clemson University from 1991-1993. He compiled a career .382 batting average and was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference twice and a first-team All-American once. On October 6, 2012, he was honored for his collegiate achievements and earned induction into the Clemson Hall of Fame.

For his professional playing career, McMillon compiled a career .304 batting average with 1,101 hits, 652 runs scored, 256 doubles, 20 triples, 127 home runs, and 610 RBIs in 992 games over 11 Minor League Baseball seasons. He was a career .310 hitter over 600 International League games with the Knights, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, Toledo Mud Hens, and Columbus Clippers. He captured his second IL batting title in 2000 when he hit .345 with the Mud Hens. Overall, he also appeared in 269 games in the majors with the Marlins (1996-97), the Philadelphia Phillies (1997), the Detroit Tigers, and the Oakland A’s (2001, 2003-04).

McMillon was named to the Charlotte Baseball Round Table of Honor in 2020. McMillon, who is a coach with the Rochester Red Wings this year, has yet to be formally honored for his induction into the Charlotte Baseball Round Table of Honor. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Knights did not hold a ceremony in 2021. The Knights hope to formally induct McMillon this year.

JASON BOURGEOIS (2007-2008 & 2016-2017)

Jason Bourgeois played for the Knights over parts of four seasons (2007, 2008, 2016, and 2017) and is among the franchise leaders in a number of offensive categories. He is third in hits (404), third in games played (368), third in at-bats (1,397), third in runs scored (191), second in stolen bases (71), and tied for first in triples (12). Bourgeois was named to the All-Knights Stadium Team in 2013 as a member of the Durham Bulls.

Bourgeois made Charlotte Knights history when he singled in the top of the seventh inning of the team’s 9-4 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday, August 13, 2017 from Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. That single was the 400th of his Charlotte Knights career, which moved him into the exclusive three-member club. Bourgeois, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and two walks on the day, joined Jordan Danks (449) and Joe Borchard (439) as the only members of the Charlotte Knights 400-Hit Club.

Originally drafted in the second round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers, the Houston, TX native played parts of eight seasons in the majors and appeared in 317 games over the course of those seasons. In the minors, Bourgeois played in parts of 18 seasons, appeared in 1,633 games and compiled 1,763 hits.

MARCUS SEMIEN (2013-2014)

Marcus Semien made his Knights debut in 2013 and returned in 2014.
Buren Foster/Charlotte Knights

Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft, Marcus Semien first made his way to Triple-A with the Knights in 2013. In 32 games with the Knights that year during the team’s final season in Fort Mill, SC, Semien hit .264 (33-for-125) with 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, and four stolen bases.

A year later, Semien was a key contributor for the Knights, who made their return to Charlotte, NC for the first time since 1988. The team opened Truist Field (then named BB&T Ballpark) on April 11, 2014. Although Semien wasn’t there for Opening Knight, he made his way to Uptown Charlotte in June and quickly excelled on the diamond with the team.

In 2014, the California native began the season with the White Sox, but was optioned to the Knights on June 1. In 83 games with Charlotte before being promoted back to Chicago on September 2, he hit .267 (81-for-303) with 57 runs scored, 20 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. He ended up appearing in 64 games with the White Sox that year — his last in the organization. Overall with the Knights, he appeared in 68 games at shortstop over parts of two seasons and a total of 115 games (2013–14). He hit .266 with 77 runs scored, 31 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in his career with the Knights.

Since then, Semien has established himself as one of the game’s best players. In 2019, he hit .285 (187-for-657) with 123 runs scored, 43 doubles, seven triples, 33 home runs, 92 RBIs and 10 stolen bases with Oakland. He finished third in American League MVP voting. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2021 season and went on to have one of his finest seasons in his career. He hit .265 (173-for-652) with 173 hits, 39 doubles and a career-best 45 home runs and 102 RBIs.

TIM ANDERSON (2016 & 2019 Rehab*)

Tim Anderson quickly made his mark in Charlotte in 2016 and has gone on to win a batting title in the majors with the White Sox.
Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights

Originally drafted in the first round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft (17th overall pick) by the Chicago White Sox, Tim Anderson appeared in 55 games with the Charlotte Knights in 2016 and hit .304 (75-for-247) with 39 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. He was promoted from Charlotte to Chicago on June 10, 2016. At the time of that promotion, Anderson was leading the International League in hits (75) and was second in runs scored (39).

Since leaving the Knights for the White Sox, Anderson has become one of the top players in all of Major League Baseball. His career came full circle during the 2019 season when on Sunday, September 29, 2019 — the final day of the regular season — Anderson was crowned as the American League batting champion. The Tuscaloosa, AL native became the first Charlotte Knights product to win the batting title since 2002 (Manny Ramirez). Earlier that season, Anderson appeared in a short rehab stint with the Knights, coming back to the Queen City for the first time since 2015.

In 123 games with the White Sox in 2019, Anderson hit .335 (167-for-498) with 81 runs scored, 32 doubles, 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. His .335 batting average was the highest in the majors — six points ahead of the National League’s Christian Yelich/Ketel Marte and eight points ahead of New York’s D.J. LeMahieu, who hit .327 to finish in second in the American League.

In 2020, Anderson earned an American League Silver Slugger Award and hit an impressive .322 (67-for-208) with a league-best 45 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and five stolen bases in the pandemic-shortened season.

Last year, he picked up where he left off and once again hit over .300 (.309). He was an American League All-Star for the first time in his career and helped the White Sox to the postseason for the second consecutive year.

Kannapolis Selects Top 5 Black MiLB Players in Organization’s History in Conjunction with “The Nine”

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

To honor one of the world’s greatest trailblazers, Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, the Cannon Ballers have created a list of the Top 5 Black Minor League Baseball players that have ever worn a jersey in Kannapolis. Making its debut in 2022, MiLB announced that they created “The Nine,” an initiative that will engage and welcome Black fans, businesses, schools and civic leaders. In 1946, Robinson wore the number nine in his only year at the minor league level. The criteria to make the Top 5 list broke down to the player’s success at the major league level.

Jimmy Rollins

In 1997, the former second-round draft by the Phillies quickly became a household name in Kannapolis by leading the team in a plethora of offensive categories. That season, Rollins (18 years old) topped the team in games played (139), runs (94), hits (151), triples (8), stolen bases (46), and total bases (207).

Nicknamed “J-Roll,” the California native went on to play 17 MLB seasons, including his first 15 years with the Phillies. In 2001, 2002, and 2005, Rollins earned a spot on the National League All-Star team, with the 2001 season being his rookie year. Despite not getting an invite to MLB’s Fall Classic in 2007, Rollins took home the league’s Most Valuable Player award, proving to be the only Kannapolis baseball alumnus to do so.

The talented shortstop brought back more hardware throughout his luxurious career, collecting a Silver Slugger award in 2007 and four Gold Glove awards (‘07, ‘08, ‘09, ‘12). Although his time in Kannapolis in 1997 was not spent while under a contract by the White Sox, Rollins played his last season in the majors in 2016 with the Sox in the South Side of Chicago.

Tim Anderson

Anderson, the current Chicago White Sox everyday shortstop, sported a Kannapolis Intimidators jersey in 2013 for 68 games, getting his first crack at baseball at the professional level. At 20 years old, Anderson batted .277, along with 24 stolen bases, and 10 doubles.

Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, “T.A.” moved his way up to the White Sox by 2016, batting an impressive .283 in 99 games. That season, Anderson came in seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting. Just a few seasons later in 2019, Anderson slashed .335/.357/.508 from the right side of the plate, with his .335 batting average earning him MLB’s American League Batting Title, the only such award won by a former Kannapolis ball player. With the entire country now knowing his name, Anderson established himself as the leader of a White Sox rebuild, helping the team make a birth to the playoffs in 2020, their first since the 2008 season.

During the 2021 campaign, Anderson led the Sox to their most wins (93) in a season since their World Series championship in 2005, while also earning his first trip to the All-Star game. T.A. remains a beacon of light for young African Americans around the country, as he started “League of Leaguers” in 2019, a youth-focused charity to empower kids in Chicago’s South Side and Tuscaloosa after losing his best friend to gun violence.

Marcus Simien

The California Golden Bear product began his professional baseball career in Kannapolis after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft. In 229 at-bats, Simien batted .253 with 15 doubles, and three homeruns. After making it to the majors in 2013 and playing two seasons in Chicago, Simien was traded to the Oakland A’s, allowing him to return to his home state from 2015-2020.

Simien’s name leaped towards the top of all second basemen in baseball right after the 2019 season, a year in which he batted .285 with 33 home runs, leading to a third-place finish in that year’s MVP voting. The Toronto Blue Jays were in need of a second baseman following the 2020 season, as they signed Simien to a one-year deal. In 2021, Simien made a start at second base in his first All-Star game, and also won a Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger award. In that same season, Simien smacked 44 home runs, breaking Davey Johnson’s MLB record for the most home runs in a season by a player who played 75 percent or more of his games at second base.

Concluding that historic season, the nine-year veteran signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Texas Rangers, now playing up the middle with Kannapolis native, Corey Seager, who signed a 10-year, $325 million contract.

Marlon Byrd

In 2000, Byrd appeared in 133 games with the Piedmont Phillies, putting his name on the map as a top power-hitter in the Phillies organization. A former 10th round pick in the 1999 MLB draft out of college, Byrd hit 17 home runs, 29 doubles, 13 triples, and swiped 41 bags.

After two more seasons in the minors, Byrd received his call up to the majors in 2002 at 24 years old, seeing himself play in 10 games. In his rookie year in 2003, Byrd came in fourth place in the Rookie of the Year voting, putting up an impressive .303 batting average, including 28 doubles and 11 stolen bases. Byrd spent two more seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to the Washington Nationals in 2005.

Byrd went on to play for 13 of the 30 MLB, including two years with the Cubs in Chicago. The 15-year MLB veteran earned his first and only All-Star appearance almost halfway through his career in 2010 with the Cubs, finishing the year with a .293 average. Byrd finished his career with 159 home runs, smacking 20 or more in a single season five times.

Chris Young

Young had his way at the plate once he walked onto the field in Kannapolis in 2004, hitting 24 home runs, 31 doubles, and collecting 31 stolen bases. Skipping over Class-A Advanced ball in Winston-Salem, Young was named the Chicago White Sox Minor League Player of the Year in 2005 after his stellar play with the Birmingham Barons. Following his second MiLB season, the White Sox traded Young to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Just one year later in 2006, Young made his debut for the D-Backs, and began the 2007 season as the D-Backs’ everyday center fielder. Young set multiple Diamondbacks’ rookie records, including hitting 32 home runs in his historic first season. A few years later in 2010, the Houston native made it to MLB’s Fall Classic, a year in which he batted .257 with 27 homers and 28 stolen bases.

Young jumped around the league after completing seven years in Arizona, with stops in OaklaKannapolis Selects Top 5 Black MiLB Players in Organization’s History in Conjunction with “The Nine”

nd, New York (Mets and Yankees), Boston, and Los Angeles (Angels). The 13-year veteran finished nine home runs shy of 200 and just 12 doubles shy of 300.

Full list of Black MiLB players that have made it to the MLB after/before playing in Kannapolis:

Jason Boyd, Piedmont Phillies, 1995

Reggie Taylor, Piedmont Boll Weevils, 1996

Jimmy Rollins, Piedmont Boll Weevils, 1997

Marlon Byrd, Piedmont Boll Weevils, 2000

Chris Young, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2004

Brandon Allen, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2006-07

Chris Carter, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2008-07

Marcus Simien, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2011

Tim Anderson, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2013

Micah Johnson, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2013

Jacob May, Kannapolis Intimidators, 2013

Keyvius Sampson, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 2021

Dash Announce Drive-Thru Santa at Truist Stadium

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

For the second year in a row, The Winston-Salem Dash and Truist will host Drive-Thru Santa at Truist Stadium. Patrons will be able to drive up and park outside the Flow Club lobby entrance and enter the lobby one family at a time for photos with Santa and Bolt. A bench for patrons will be provided next to Santa to provide a safe photo opportunity. Additional details, including safety protocols recommended by the CDC and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, are available by calling 336-714-6862. A limited number of slots are available during thirty-minute time periods on the following dates:

· Saturday, December 4th – 3:15 – 6pm

· Sunday, December 5th – 2:30 – 5pm

· Tuesday, December 7th – 5:30 – 8:00pm

· Sunday, December 12th – 10am – 1pm

The cost is $35 per vehicle (maximum of 6 guests per vehicle) and includes a digital copy of the photo opportunity with Santa and choice of coffee, hot cocoa or water for each guest. Patrons can purchase additional drinks or a special holiday ticket package and select Dash merchandise at the event. Dash staff will take the photos and email them to the guests. A printed copy of your photo is also available for an additional fee. Reservations can be made online by clicking the dates above or by calling 336-714-6862. Time slots go on sale November 10th at 11:00 a.m..

Triple-A Final Stretch to Benefit Local Charity

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New York, NY, September 21, 2021 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the creation of a charitable component to the 10-game Triple-A Final Stretch of games that will benefit 501(c)3 charities in each Triple-A city.

For each home run hit by Triple-A teams (home and road games) during the Triple-A Final Stretch, Minor League Baseball will donate $50 per home run to a local charity selected by the team. The team hitting the most home runs over the 10-game span will generate an extra $5,000 donation for their charity.

The Triple-A Final Stretch begins on September 22nd as the Knights will host the Norfolk Tides from Truist Field. The Knights have selected Baseball For Life as this year’s charity to receive these donations.

Baseball For Life looks to teach young people throughout the Charlotte community the importance of our four pillars of Character – Service, Stewardship, Leadership and Ownership. These skills are important in the game of baseball are in life. The role of Baseball For Life is to effectively coordinate and channel these our community’s resources in a way which most positively impacts young people. Although Baseball For Life will continue to evolve over the years its initial tangible influence on the community’s youth will be felt primarily through five on-going initiatives.

“Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development,

Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.”

Minor League Baseball consists of 120 teams across four classification levels (Low-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A) that are affiliated with Major League Baseball’s 30 teams. Fans flock to Minor League Baseball games to see baseball’s future stars and experience the affordable family-friendly entertainment that has been a staple of Minor League Baseball since 1901. For more information, visit MiLB.com. Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Weston Named 2021 Service Through Sports Award Recipient

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The Winston-Salem Dash are proud to announce Claudette Weston as the recipient of the 2021 Service Through Sports Award, presented by Truist. The Service Through Sports award is given annually to a member of the local athletic community who has positively impacted the city of Winston-Salem through his/her efforts as a player, coach, executive or member of the media.

Weston is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Weston & Associates, Inc., a meeting and event management company based in Winston-Salem. She has spent the entirety of her professional career as a catalyst for positive change by serving on over 50 boards and using local sports as a way to bring the citizens of Winston-Salem together.

She has served as a member of the Greater Winston-Salem Sports Commission and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Winston-Salem National Little League. She was also a driving force in bringing the AAU Junior Boys 17-and-Under National Basketball Tournament to Winston-Salem from 1992 through 1995.

While Weston holds passion for sports, her service has spanned far beyond the athletic community. She has contributed as a member for ACTS of Forsyth County, Advocacy for the Poor, the Council on Anxiety Disorders, and others.

“Claudette has made a profoundly positive impact on the Winston-Salem sports community,” says Winston-Salem Dash President C.J. Johnson. “we are honored to recognize her dedication and hard work with this years’ Service Through Sports Award.”

Weston has called the Piedmont Triad home her entire life, as she was born and raised in Old Town and is a proud graduate of Guilford College. She will be recognized at Truist Stadium on Tuesday, September 14th as the Winston-Salem Dash take on the Asheville Tourists in the annual 336 Day celebration.

Previous Winston-Salem Dash Service Through Sports Award winners:

  • 2010: Clarence “Big House” Gaines, the late Winston-Salem State University men’s basketball coach
  • 2011: Tom Walter, Wake Forest University baseball head coach
  • 2012: Bob and Lisa Gfeller, creators of the Matthew Gfeller Foundation
  • 2013: Rich Brenner, the late sportscaster at Fox 8 (WGHP-TV)
  • 2014: Howard West, longtime high school boys basketball coach
  • 2015: Lenox Rawlings, three-time North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year
  • 2016: Rusty LaRue, former Wake Forest multi-sport star and creator of the Rusty LaRue Golf Tournament
  • 2017: Dave Odom, former Wake Forest basketball coach
  • 2018: Mike Lambros, the late longtime high school teacher and softball coach at North Davidson High School
  • 2019: Tom, Andy, Mike and Adam Muse, local high school teachers and basketball coaches
  • 2020: Dave Goren, Executive Director of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA)

The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For more information, please call 336-714-2287 or__visit www.wsdash.com.

Dash Announce Hometown Heroes USA Celebration

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The Winston-Salem Dash are teaming up with Salem One for a Hometown Heroes USA event at Truist Stadium on Saturday, September 11 to honor all service members and first responders (active and retired). The Dash will take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, at 6:00 p.m.

Service members and first responders (and one guest) can take advantage of a special $5 offer that includes their game ticket and a voucher for a hot dog, chips, and a Pepsi product. Additional tickets that include the food and beverage voucher can be purchased for $16. The first 500 service members and first responders to purchase tickets will be eligible to receive a free pair of OnCloud athletic shoes at the game, courtesy of Veterans Service of the Carolinas. Fans should register for shoes when purchasing their tickets, and the shoes generally run a half size small. All tickets through this offer must be reserved by Wednesday, September 1.

“We are proud to partner with Salem One to recognize those who have served our country at home and abroad,” said Dash President C.J. Johnson. “September 11 seemed like the perfect date to honor members of the armed forces and police, fire and emergency response personnel whose selfless acts help provide the freedom and security we are all able to enjoy.”

For more information and to purchase tickets contact Bobby Lemons by calling 336-714-6860 or emailing [email protected]. This offer is not available online.

Dash to Host Fill the Stands with Cans Night

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The Winston-Salem Dash, in partnership with the Piedmont Triad Apartment Association (PTAA) and WXII will host the eleventh annual Fill the Stands with Cans Night as the Dash take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Saturday, August 14th at Truist Stadium.

This event benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, an organization whose mission is to eliminate food waste and eradicate hunger throughout the Carolinas. Fans are encouraged to lend a helping hand by donating non-perishable food items or cash, both of which will be collected by volunteers stationed around the stadium on Saturday.

According to Jon Lowder, Executive Director of the PTAA, the Fill the Stands with Cans campaign has given the organization’s annual food drive a tremendous boost over the last few years. Second Harvest can provide seven meals for every $1 raised, so every dollar donated makes a big impact. Food donations are equally important, as they can be effective immediately.

As a thank you from the Dash and the PTAA for helping support Second Harvest, any fan who brings a non-perishable food item or cash donation to Saturday’s game will receive a ticket voucher that can be redeemed for any remaining 2021 Dash home game, excluding Saturday night’s game. Vouchers can be redeemed at the PTI Box Office, which is open leading up to all home games and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday on non-gamedays.

Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. for Saturday’s 6:00 p.m. game against the Grasshoppers. Tickets are still available for purchase for by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visitinghttps://www.milb.com/winston-salem/tickets. Following the game will be Kids Run the Bases, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem.

Dash to Deliver Free Ice Cream to Local Neighborhood

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The Winston-Salem Dash and Truist are bringing Truist Stadium’s delicious frozen treat, ice cream, to a local neighborhood. Dash staff and team mascot BOLT will deliver free ice cream from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 7.

The free ice cream delivery is designed to bring some joy to families as spring arrives and baseball season begins. Neighborhoods can be nominated in a social media contest on the Dash Facebook page or by emailing the Dash at [email protected]. In 2020, the Dash delivered free ice cream to over a dozen neighborhoods.

“We are excited to once again surprise a local neighborhood with free ice cream” said Dash President, C.J. Johnson. “We decided we don’t have to wait until Opening Day to bring some smiles to our fan’s faces.”

The Winston-Salem Dash 2021 season will begin on Tuesday, May 4 at home against the Rome Braves.

Dash to Toss Free T-Shirts in Local Neighborhoods

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The Winston-Salem Dash, Truist, and Wake Forest Baptist Health are taking the most popular in-game promotion at Truist Stadium, the “Free T-shirt Toss” to one local neighborhood. Dash staff and team mascot BOLT will toss free T-shirts from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 31.

The “T-shirt Toss” is designed to bring some joy to families as they continue through this unusual school year. Neighborhoods can be nominated in a social media contest on the Dash Facebook page or by emailing the Dash at [email protected]. The Dash will also be delivering free ice cream to neighborhoods in the coming weeks.

“Nothing gets a crowd more excited than a Free T-shirt Toss,” said Dash President, C.J. Johnson. “If your neighborhood is selected, the odds of catching a T-shirt when you are only competing with your family are dramatically better than in a full stadium!”

T-shirts will be wrapped with useful information from Wake Forest Baptist Health regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the neighborhoods is selected, they will be informed of the delivery date, so families can be prepared to be on their porch during the T-shirt Toss.

The Winston-Salem Dash 2021 season will begin on Tuesday, May 4 at home against the Rome Braves.

The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For more information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com__.

Regions Field to Host Fultondale High School Baseball Home Opener

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Regions Field is honored to announce that it will host the Fultondale High School Wildcats home opener against the Ramsay High School Rams on Saturday, February 27th. The game will begin at 12:00 p.m. with gates opening at 11:00 a.m.

Due to the recent tornado damage sustained to Fultondale’s home field, the team has been forced to move their practices and home games 20 miles away to Tarrant Field. To assist in this incredibly tough time for the club, Regions Field is proud to offer the Wildcats the chance to play their home opener on the very same field that the Birmingham Barons call home.

“Our prayers and thoughts continue for our Fultondale neighbors as they recover from the recent tornado,” said Barons President and General Manager Jonathan Nelson. “Knowing Fultondale’s High School Baseball Team had their 2020 season cut short due to COVID, and then to not have a home season at their ballpark due to this devasting tornado is heartbreaking. We are honored to help Fultondale kick-off their season against Ramsay High and want to make this a special experience for Fultondale’s student-athletes as well the entire Fultondale community.”

With their home field destroyed, Fultondale is living by the motto “Home is Where the Heart is”. As the team prepares for the upcoming season, the team has decided to bring the bases and the home plate from their home field to every game. This act represents the pride the team has for their community, and to always remain Fultondale Strong.

“We dug up home plate and are taking it everywhere we go because our heart is back at our home field, wherever we are fortunate to play will now become our home.” Said Fultondale Head Coach Michael Franklin. “We really hope to have the community come out to Regions Field and support the boys on February 27th.”

Tickets for the Fultondale’s home opener can be purchased at the GoFan digital ticketing site for $6. Fans will also be able to purchase tickets at Regions Field on the day of the game. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go directly back to the Fultondale Baseball Team.

As with all events at Regions Field, the facility will be enforcing all social distancing and safety regulations set forth by the City of Birmingham and the Jefferson County Department of Health Department.

Winston-Salem Dash Announce Dash City Gives

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Nearly 100 families to receive gifts through Dash City Gives Drive-Thru event at Truist Stadium.

The Winston-Salem Dash will be providing children from nearly 100 families in need with gifts this holiday season at a Dash City Gives Drive Thru event. The families will also receive complimentary hot cocoa as they proceed through the parking lot at Truist Stadium on Monday, December 21 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. CDC and Wake Forest Baptist Health recommended safety protocol will be followed.

Select triad families were informed of the opportunity through non-profits, including The Hispanic League. All participants have RSVP’d. Day of arrivals will not be eligible for gifts.

The Dash staff and mascot Bolt will be assisted with present distribution by Santa! Companies interest in donating presents for this event or signing up for a time slots to wrap gifts can contact the Dash at 336-714-6866. Any donations above what are needed for this event will be donated to Toys for Tots.

“The pandemic has hit families hard. Our staff hopes this event will be a way to bring a little extra joy to some Winston-Salem families this holiday season” said Dash President, C.J. Johnson.

The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.For more information, please call 336-714-2287 or__visit www.wsdash.com.

CANNON BALLERS HONOR HEROES THROUGH FIELD OF HONOR®

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(KANNAPOLIS, NC) – In a tribute of those whose actions made them heroes in our lives, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers bring their inaugural Field of Honor® display to Atrium Health Ballpark.

It is appropriate to honor our heroes with a display of the flag that they honored through their service and sacrifice. The Field of Honor® display of United States flags bring volunteers, residents, and visitors together as hundreds of flags are posted. This inspiring and memorable panorama of red, white, and blue is hard to describe, but once experienced it is not to be forgotten.

Each 3-foot by 5-foot flag comes with its own story and displays a tag identifying both the flag honoree and the person who sponsored the flag. Flags may be purchased to honor the memory of a veteran or current service member from any branch of service. The purchaser will be permitted to take home the flag following the conclusion of the event. This living display of heroism flies as a patriotic tribute to the strength and unity of Americans, and honors all those who are serving, have served, and have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom.

The Field of Honor® will fly starting November 2nd thru November 11th. The Cannon Ballers will host an Opening Ceremony for the placing of the first flag on November 2nd at 12:00pm at Gate #1 (West Ave). The field will then be open to the public 24 hours a day for viewing and observation. Each evening, “Taps” will be played at sunset. A Closing Ceremony will be held on November 11th at 11:00AM inside of Atrium Health Ballpark with guest speakers, musical tributes, and the reading of the names of the veterans honored on the field. All ceremonies pending social distancing standards and the mandates from the Office of the Governor.

Flags are available for purchase for $40 at the Cannon Baller team store or online at www.kcballers.com. Cash, check, or credit/debit card are available.

For more information on the Field of Honor®, visit www.kcballers.com or call 704-932-3267. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to contact Ryan Pegarsch at 704-935-1529 or [email protected].

About Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Currently located in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the team was established in 1995 as the Piedmont Phillies until 1996 when they changed their name to the Piedmont Boll Weevils.

What is Field of Honor®?
The Field of Honor® program is part of a national movement that started out as a way to commemorate the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and was founded by the Colonial Flag Foundation.

In just a short amount of time, the concept has grown and communities like ours across America are turning to Field of Honor® tributes to raise money and awareness for a growing array of causes. The Field of Honor® is a community project of remembrance, and an expression of humanity and patriotism.