Top Five Black Players in Columbia History

To celebrate Black History Month, the Columbia Fireflies are joining MLB in naming the top five black players to play baseball in the Midlands region. Columbia has a decorated baseball history that first saw professional baseball in the late 1800’s. The first Major League team to make an official relationship

To celebrate Black History Month, the Columbia Fireflies are joining MLB in naming the top five black players to play baseball in the Midlands region. Columbia has a decorated baseball history that first saw professional baseball in the late 1800’s. The first Major League team to make an official relationship with Columbia was the Cincinnati Reds, who announced their affiliation with the city in 1954.

Across the expansive list of players, this is the group that stands out over the rest.

5.) Our countdown starts with Ron Washington. While Washington didn’t play in Columbia, many people don’t know Washington for his eight-year Major League career in the middle infield, they know him for his time as a Manager and coach. His coaching career began with the Capital City Bombers, where he manned the helm in 1993 and 1994. Washington led the Bombers to 123 wins across those two seasons before getting an offer from the Oakland Athletics to help out their Major League staff during the start of the Moneyball era. Washington is credited as teaching Scott Hatteberg how to play first base after Billy Beane signed him. The Louisiana native began his Major League coaching career in 2007 with the Texas Rangers. In parts of eight seasons with the Rangers, Washington led the club to the World Series in 2010-11 and to a third playoff berth in 2012. He would finish his managerial career with a 664-611 record after resigning from his post with the Rangers in 2014. In 2016, he made his return to coaching in Major League Baseball, this time as a third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves. Washington was finally able to win his first World Series when the Braves took home the title in 2021.

4.) Next up, the first former player in Columbia to make the list is Mo Bruce. While Bruce never played in the Majors, he had a profound impact on the last championship season in Soda City. The middle infielder played for the Capital City Bombers in the 1998 campaign and led the League with a .341 average in 126 games. Hickory’s Jimmy Terrell was second in the league with a .337 clip. Bruce wasn’t selected until the 54th round of the 1994 draft, but he did more than provide an elite average for Capital City. He also clubbed 15 homers and drove in a team-high 74 RBI on Capital City’s chase for the South Atlantic League crown. Over the course of his career, Bruce spent six seasons in the minors, including two in AAA. He held a career average of .289 and had 38 total homers. His input was a big reason why Baseball America ranked that Bombers’ team first overall in the last 1998 power ranking they put out that season. Bruce also had an intangible that added to the team’s success: his veteran presence. A lot of guys in that line-up viewed Bruce as a third coach on the field. Bruce was a year or two older than most of the other players on that roster. That magical season at Capital City Stadium is where Bruce put together his top power and average numbers to help culminate in a ring, and that’s why he clocks in at number four in our list.

3.) Simeon Woods-Richardson is the only pitcher in the top-five, but Woods-Richardson has established himself, not only as one of the top pitchers in Columbia history, but one of the top young, exciting prospects in all of baseball, all before his 22nd birthday. Prior to the 2021 season, Baseball America ranked the righty as the 60th-best prospect in baseball. The magazine gives credit to his control of all four of his pitches and most believe he will make his Major League debut some time this season. He wasn’t ignored by the other top publication in baseball scouting. MLB.com Pipeline called Woods-Richardson the 87th-best prospect in baseball prior to the 2021 season. In Columbia, the Sugar Land, Texas native racked up strikeouts at an incredible rate. He started all 20 of his appearances for the Fireflies, punching out 97 batters in 78.1 frames. That’s 11.15 K/9 IP! His overall numbers have been hampered by a lot of the hype around him that has led to Woods-Richardson being involved in two blockbuster trades in the last three seasons. First, he was traded with LHP Anthony Kay for All-Star Marcus Stroman in 2019. Next the wheels brought him to Minnesota where he was traded with SS Austin Martin for All-Star Jose Berrios. While Woods-Richardson has had to adapt to playing in three different farm systems, his talent was recognized when he was selected to pitch in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and was awarded a silver medal for his participation with team USA. Simeon Woods-Richardson’s career is far from over, but what he’s accomplished already is enough for him to end up at number three on this list!

2.) Our next candidate never played baseball professionally in the Midlands, but it would be a crime to leave someone so impactful off our list. Larry Doby was born in Sumter, less than 50 miles from Segra Park. When Doby was young, his family moved to New Jersey, where he would eventually play for the Negro League Newark Eagles from 1942-1944. Like many others in that era, Doby stepped away from baseball to join the war effort at the peak of World War II. The star ballplayer joined the Navy and when he came back to the states in 1946, he played again for the Newark Eagles. He didn’t stick to baseball though, Doby broke the color barrier in the ABL, a precursor to today’s NBA and then he helped the Eagles win a championship in 1946 before the Cleveland Indians signed him in 1947. Later that season, Doby followed Jackie Robinson to become the second black player in Major League Baseball. He broke the color barrier in the American League, and then followed it with plenty of accolades. The next year, on his way to winning a World Series with the Indians, Doby became the first African American to hit a homer in a World Series game. Then, in 1952, on another run that saw Cleveland finish second in the American League, Doby became the first black player to lead a league in homers. He hit 32 homers in the campaign, beating teammate Luke Easter by a single homer for the league lead. Over the course of Doby’s career, he played in seven All-Star games and tallied five-100 RBI seasons and eight-20 home run seasons. Doby was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1998. His impact on the game of baseball will never be forgotten.

1.) Now it’s time for our top spot on the list. There are plenty of people who had incredible careers in Columbia and beyond, but when you combine the impact a player had in the Midlands with a Major League impact, you have to hand the top award to Frank Robinson who spent parts of two summers playing for the Columbia Reds in 1954-55. During his time in Columbia, The Judge paced the 1954 team with a .336 average and 25 homers in 132 games. In 1955 he added 12 more homers in 80 games before getting the call straight to the majors in 1956 where he won the National League Rookie of the Year award as a 20-year-old. After a decade with the Reds, Robinson was traded to the Orioles during the 1965 campaign. In his first season on the East Coast, Robinson won the AL Triple Crown, blasting 49 homers to pair with a .316 average and 122 RBI. That season, Robinson won the AL MVP award, four years after he won the NL MVP award with the Reds, thus becoming the first player to win the MVP for both leagues. The slugger also tallied a World Series MVP in 1966. He was the heart of the Orioles lineup that won three AL Pennants from 1969-71. All-in-all, Robinson was a 14-time All-Star and has the most walk-off hits (26) in Major League history. Robinson’s 586 homers are the 10th-most all-time. Robinson wasn’t done there though. After his playing days ended in Cleveland, Robinson became the manager for the Indians, making his way as the first black manager in Major League Baseball. He would manage for the Giants, Orioles, Expos and Nationals before retiring and took home the hardware for the 1989 American League Manager of the Year. Robinson truly was one of the all-time greats, and that’s why he leads our list of top black players to come through Columbia.

Black History Month:  A Look Back With Cory Vaughn

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.
We will be showcasing these players – in no particular order – throughout the month and introducing a video

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

We will be showcasing these players – in no particular order – throughout the month and introducing a video series where we chat with each player about their time in Brooklyn and where life has taken them since their time on Coney Island.

First up is Cory Vaughn. Without a doubt, Cory Vaughn was the most prolific power hitter in Cyclones history during their time in the New York-Penn League. His 14 home runs and 56 RBI were both franchise records, until the Cyclones became a full-season affiliate following the 2019 season. Cory also led the NYPL with a .557 slugging percentage and a .953 on-base percentage. The 4th Round selection in the 2010 MLB Draft was a New York-Penn League All-Star in 2010 and made it all the way to Triple-A Las Vegas with the Mets in 2015 before finishing his career in the Independent Atlantic League with Southern Maryland.

National Platform Adds To MiLB’s Inclusion Efforts Through America’s Pastime

NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 1, 2022 —Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) today announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

MiLB’s ‘The Nine’: Top Black Players in Atlanta Braves Triple-A History

In celebration of Black History Month and Minor League Baseball’s launch of “The Nine,” teams across MiLB are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their franchise.

Black players have held a starring role in every era of Atlanta Braves Triple-A history, from Tommie Aaron, Dusty Baker, and Ralph Garr in the early days of the Richmond Braves in the 1960’s and 70’s, to Gerald Perry, Lonnie Smith, and Tony Tarasco of the 80’s and 90’s Richmond teams, to Stefan Gartrell, Travis Demeritte, and Touki Toussaint of the more recent Gwinnett clubs.

Recognizing the five best Black players in Richmond and Gwinnett’s combined 56-year history is no easy task, but the players below all have one thing in common: they left lasting marks in the Triple-A record books.

5: Stefan Gartrell (2011-13)

Stefan Gartrell blasted 54 career home runs with Gwinnett from 2011 to 2013.
Karl L. Moore

Gartrell is the lone entrant on the list from the Gwinnett era. The prolific slugger ranks among Gwinnett’s career leaders in home runs (2nd, 54), doubles (4th, 63), runs (4th, 166), and RBI (4th, 180) since 2009. He bashed 25 long-balls and drove in 91 runs in 116 games during the 2011 season with the G-Braves, earning him selection to the International League Postseason All-Star team. Those 25 clouts are tied for eighth-most in a single season in franchise history.

Gartrell returned to launch 20 homers in 2012 and nine more in 2013 before ultimately calling it a career. Of his 137 career minor league clouts over eight professional seasons, nearly 40% came in a Gwinnett uniform. Despite his prodigious power, the San Francisco, CA native never reached the Majors.

4: Bill Robinson (1966)

In Richmond’s inaugural year of existence as the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in 1966, Robinson became the franchise’s very first International League Postseason All-Star. The McKeesport, PA native batted .312 with 30 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 86 runs, and 79 RBIs in 139 games, helping the R-Braves reach the Governors’ Cup Finals.

To date, Robinson still ranks among franchise single-season leaders in hits (T-3rd, 159), and total bases (7th, 257). He went on to play a 16-year Major League career with the Braves, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1966-83.

3. Gerald Perry (1982-83, 1986)

Gerald Perry was named an International League Postseason All-Star in 1983 and 1986.
Richmond Braves Archives

Perry’s accomplishments in three seasons with Richmond are numerous. As a Triple-A rookie in 1982, he became the third player in franchise history to hit for the cycle (May 12 vs. Tidewater) and ranked among franchise single-season leaders in RBIs (T-6th, 93), walks (8th, 91), and runs (T-8th, 94). Perry returned to the R-Braves in 1983 and again in 1986, and earned International League Postseason All-Star honors both years, making him one of only three players in franchise history to win twice.

The Savannah, GA native played 353 total games with Richmond, batting .311 (5th-best in franchise history) with 73 doubles, 17 triples, 38 homers, 244 runs, and 238 RBIs. He went on to a 13-year Major League career with the Braves (1983-89), Kansas City Royals (1990), and St. Louis Cardinals (1991-95).

2. Ralph Garr (1969-70)

After playing for the R-Braves from 1969-70, Garr returned to the team as a coach from 1985-87.
Richmond Braves Archives

Garr is quite simply the greatest hitter for average in Atlanta Braves Triple-A history, thanks to his franchise-record .356 career batting average with Richmond. He is the only player in franchise history to win two International League Batting Titles, accomplishing the feat in each of his two seasons with the R-Braves (.329 in 1969, franchise-record .386 in 1970). Garr also led the IL in stolen bases both years (63 in 1969, 39 in 1970) as he earned consecutive selections to the IL Postseason All-Star Team.

Following a 13-year Major League career with the Atlanta Braves (1968-75), Chicago White Sox (1976-79), and California Angels (1979-80), Garr returned to Richmond as a coach from 1985-87 and was part of the 1986 Governors’ Cup Championship club. The Monroe, LA native was elected to the IL Hall of Fame in 2008.

1. Tommie Aaron (1966-67, 1971-72, Manager from 1977-78)

Tommie Aaron hoists the Governors’ Cup as manager of the 1978 International League champion Richmond Braves.
Richmond Braves Archives

The younger brother of baseball icon Hank Aaron, Tommie Aaron became a legend in his own right as the only man in International League history to earn league Most Valuable Player honors and manage a Governors’ Cup champion. The Monroe, AL native hit .309 as the IL MVP in 1967, helping the Richmond Braves capture their first IL pennant. Ten seasons later, he became the league’s first Black manager. In just his second season at the helm, Aaron led Richmond to their first Governors’ Cup Championship in 1978.

Aaron also played 437 games over a seven-year Major League career with the Milwaukee Braves (1962-63) and Atlanta Braves (1968-71). He and Hank still hold the MLB record for most combined home runs by brothers (768, 13 by Tommie and 755 by Hank).

Aaron’s number 23, originally retired by Richmond in 1985 shortly after his passing in 1984, remains retired by Gwinnett. In 2008, he joined Garr in being elected to the IL Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mentions:

Albert Hall (1982-83, 1985-86)

Hall is the greatest speedster in Atlanta Braves Triple-A history, ranking among record holders in career stolen bases (1st, 186), triples (2nd, 32), and runs (6th, 302) following his two stints with Richmond. He owns two of the franchise’s top four single-season triples totals (franchise-record 15 in 1982, T-4th with 11 in 1983), two of the top five single-season runs totals (franchise-record 120 in 1983, T-5th with 97 in 1982), and three of the top seven single-season steals totals (2nd with 72 in 1986, 4th with 62 in 1982, and T-7th with 46 in 1983).

Hall’s quickness helped him become the second player in franchise history to hit for the cycle on May 3, 1982 at Syracuse. The Birmingham, AL native went on to play parts of nine Major League seasons with Atlanta (1981-88) and Pittsburgh (1989).

Larry Whisenton (1976-81, 1983-85)

Whisenton is the king when it comes to longevity, having played a franchise-record 773 games over parts of nine seasons with Richmond. He was in the R-Braves’ Opening Day starting lineup in six of those years (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984).

Though he was never selected to an IL Postseason All-Star team, Whisenton did reach the 100-hit plateau in three different seasons, including a 114-hit campaign as a 21-year-old in 1978 and 121 hits in his final full Triple-A season in 1981. His 657 career hits stood as a franchise record until 2021, when he was surpassed by Gwinnett’s Sean Kazmar Jr. (675). In addition to games and hits, Whisenton ranks among the franchise’s top five hitters in triples (1st, 46), runs (1st, 392), RBIs (2nd, 308), walks (3rd, 432), at-bats (3rd, 2,505), and stolen bases (4th, 93).

Drafted by Atlanta in the second round in 1975, the St. Louis, MO native went on to a 116-game Major League career with the Braves (1977-79, 1981-82).

Curve Join Minor League Baseball in Celebration of Black History Month 

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 your Altoona Curve.

LHP Shane Youman (2004-06)

Easily one of the best pitchers of the first ten seasons of Curve baseball, left-hander Shane Youman turned in one of the best seasons on the mound in Altoona Curve history. A native of New Iberia, Louisiana, Youman was selected in the 43rd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft.

A lefty reliever at the outset of his professional career, Youman steadily climbed the Pirates minor league system by serving as the closer at Short-Season Williamsport, Single-A Hickory and High-A Lynchburg in his first three seasons. In 2004, Youman arrived for the playoff push in Altoona and threw a scoreless inning in the postseason aiding the Curve to their first appearance in the Eastern League Championship series.

Youman returned to Altoona for Opening Day in 2005 and quickly settled into a high-leverage relief role for Manager Tony Beasley and the Curve. The 2005 Curve were one of the Eastern League’s top teams combining a powerful hitting core with several future major leaguers on the mound. At the plate, Josh Bonifay and Jose Bautista sent baseballs into orbit all summer long, combining for 48 home runs, driving in speedsters Rajai Davis and Rich Thompson; who each set the franchise record with an Eastern League best 45 stolen bases.

On the mound, Youman joined future major leaguers Tom Gorzelanny, Matt Capps and Paul Maholm to lead the Curve to the postseason. Youman finished the regular season tied for third on the team with 44 appearances, including five starts, and recorded a 3.92 ERA. Youman made one start in the 2005 Eastern League Playoffs against the Akron Aeros, allowing three runs in four innings pitched, a series taken by the Aeros in five games.

Youman returned to Altoona in 2006 and turned in one of the best seasons in Eastern League history. With a dramatic cut in his walk rate from the season before, Youman set the Curve’s single-season franchise record for lowest ERA in a season with a 1.51 mark. As he swung between the bullpen and starting rotation, the crafty left-hander allowed just 92 baserunners (70 hits, 20 walks, 1 intentional walk, 1 hit by pitch) and struck out 64 batters in a swing role between the bullpen and rotation, totaling 95.1 innings pitched. All told he appeared in 23 games for the Curve and made 11 starts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 2006 campaign finished in Pittsburgh for Youman where he made his major league debut on September 10, 2006 with a start against the Cincinnati Reds. Despite being charged with a loss, Youman allowed just three runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Youman would pitch in five games and make three starts for the Pirates at the tail end of the 2006 season allowing just seven runs in 21.2 innings, recording a 2.91 ERA. Youman would go on to make 16 appearances, eight starts, for the Pirates in 2007, going 3-5 with a 5.97 ERA.

While his major league career spanned only 79 career innings in Pittsburgh, Youman’s pro career was just taking off as he would spend the next ten years playing all over the world. Youman spent four seasons in the Atlantic League before earning his first overseas opportunity with Lamigo in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2011. After seven dominant starts in the CPBL, the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization took notice and signed Youman for the 2012 season where he quickly emerged as one of the league’s best. With a 2.55 ERA in 28 starts, good for third-best in the KBO, Youman led a late-season surge into the postseason for the Giants. After a thrilling victory in a four-game series with Doosan in the quarterfinals, Lotte lost a hard-fought five-game series with SK Wyverns in the semifinals. Youman would go on to spend four seasons in the KBO where he went 42-27 with a 3.99 ERA.

A 15-year professional career wrapped up for Youman following 13 starts in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2016-17 where he was still effective to the tune of a 4.15 ERA at age 36. All told, the left-hander threw more than 1700 innings as a professional and recorded a 3.87 career ERA.

OF Rajai Davis (2005)

Pittsburgh found a diamond in the rough late in the 2001 MLB Amateur draft when the Pirates selected outfielder Rajai Davis in the 38th round out of Division-III UConn-Avery Point. Davis, a native of nearby New London, CT, used blazing speed to become one of the best outfielders in the Pirates minor league system and quickly rose to prominence for his exploits on the base paths combined with a patient, contact-oriented approach at the plate.

By the time Davis arrived in Altoona for the 2005 campaign, he already had a pair of 40 stolen base seasons under his belt and had established himself as a .300 hitter at the lower levels of the Pirates minor league system. Davis kept the good times rolling with the Curve and combined with Rich Thompson to create havoc on the basepaths. Davis and Thompson both stole 45 bases during the 2005 season, tops in the Eastern League, to lead Altoona to a third straight playoff appearance. Named to the Eastern League All-Star team, the Curve missed Davis’ presence in the postseason after he was placed on the Injured List in late-August and missed the rest of the campaign. Davis finished his lone season in Altoona with a team-best 140 hits and 82 runs scored in 123 games played.

Davis’ speed combined with his contact-oriented approach at the plate would serve him well as he went on to a 14-year major league career with Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Oakland, Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Boston and the New York Mets. Davis made his major league debut on August 14, 2006 with a pinch-hit appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 4-2 Pirates victory. Like many young players, his first two seasons in the majors saw him shuttle back and forth between the major league club and Triple-A. Davis totaled 44 games in a Pirates uniform, batting .242 with three doubles, one triple and six stolen bases, and his speed allowed him to make highlight reel plays in the outfield. As the trade deadline arrived in the summer of 2007, the San Francisco Giants came calling and acquired Davis, along with a player to be named later, for righty Matt Morris. Davis played 51 games down the stretch of the 2007 season for San Francisco and batted .282 with 17 stolen bases. His performance helped establish him as a reliable contributor in the outfield that would put him in demand at the major league level.

Davis moved to the American League and into a starting role with the Oakland Athletics after they claimed him off waivers prior to the 2008 campaign. While patrolling center field for the A’s for three seasons, he compiled a .283 average and stole 120 bases in 381 games. Davis went on to spend three seasons in Toronto before advancing to the postseason for the first time in his major league career with Detroit in 2014. Led by a veteran core at the plate with future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera in the middle of the order, Davis combined to man center field with Austin Jackson and helped lead the Tigers to an AL Central Division title.

Despite a sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles in the 2014 Division Series, Davis would soon write his name into the history books when found himself back in the thick of the playoff chase with AL Central rival Cleveland in 2016. On July 2, 2016, Davis became the eighth player in Major League history to hit for the cycle in reverse. Facing off against his former teammates in Toronto, Davis homered to lead off the game, tripled in the third inning, doubled in the sixth and singled in the ninth to finish off the cycle. As the Indians surged to their first World Series appearance since 1997, Davis played a massive role in the Fall Classic; a seven-game thriller with the Chicago Cubs. With Cleveland trailing by two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and just four outs away from elimination, Davis swatted a 2-2 offering from Chicago’s Aroldis Chapman over the wall in left field to tie the game at 6-6. The Cubs went on to win break the Curse of the Billy Goat with a victory in extra innings.

Following the heartbreaking loss in the 2016 World Series, Davis signed a free agent deal with the Oakland Athletics and found himself back in the postseason the very next year as an extra outfielder for the Boston Red Sox after they acquired him up at the 2017 Trade Deadline. Despite making just one plate appearance in the postseason, Davis complimented Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field providing a right-handed platoon and maintained a veteran presence in the clubhouse that had several young stars including Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.

Davis’ 14-year major league career wrapped up following another season with Cleveland in 2018 and the New York Mets in 2019. All told he played in 1,448 major league games batting .262 with 62 home runs, 387 runs batted in and 415 stolen bases. Prior to the 2021 season, Davis accepted a role with Major League Baseball as Senior Director, On-Field Operations overseeing the Northeast region.

OF Andrew McCutchen (2006-07)

One of the most popular players in Altoona’s franchise history, Andrew McCutchen has gone onto a brilliant major league career with Pittsburgh, San Francisco, New York (AL) and Philadelphia.

Drafted 11th overall in 2005 by the Pirates out of Fort Meade HS in Fort Meade, Florida, McCutchen immediately became one of the top prospects in the organization and overall, in baseball. Prior to the 2006 season, Baseball America named McCutchen the #50 prospect in the minors as he embarked on his first full-season campaign as a professional, opening the season with Single-A Hickory where he was named an SAL All-Star and earned a late-season promotion to Altoona. Reaching Double-A as a 19-year-old, McCutchen continued his dominance at the plate by hitting .308 in the final 20 games of the regular season and aiding the Curve to a fourth straight postseason appearance. Despite being the youngest player to suit up for the Curve at 19 years, ten months and five days, McCutchen picked up four hits in a five-game postseason series with Akron; a series won by the Aeros with a 5-2 decision in the decisive fifth game.

McCutchen returned to Altoona as the Opening Day Center Fielder and immediately put together an All-Start worthy campaign in the Eastern League. Named as a top-15 prospect in the minors by both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, McCutchen showed off an impressive power/speed combination with 33 extra base hits and 17 stolen bases in 118 games while batting .258 with a .327 on-base percentage while playing as one of the youngest players in the league. At just 20 years-old, McCutchen was named an Eastern League All-Star and earned a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis late in the season. Combined in 2007, he batted .265/.329/.388 with 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases. After the season he played for the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League and was named a Rising Star and to the AFL’s All-Prospect Team.

After a Futures Game appearance in 2008, McCutchen finally reached Pittsburgh to make his Major League debut after 49 games in Indianapolis to start the 2009 campaign. Following a June 3 trade of center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta, the Pirates recalled McCutchen and he singled in his first career at bat off Mets starter Mike Pelfrey to begin a two-hit day at the plate and lead the Pirates to an 11-6 win at PNC Park. McCutchen’s rookie campaign saw him finish fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting after he batted .286/.365/.471 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs and 54 runs batted in.

McCutchen blossomed into one of the National League’s brightest stars in his nine seasons in Pittsburgh. 2011 marked the first of five consecutive All-Star Game selections, four Silver Slugger Awards, a 2012 Gold Award and in 2013 he earned the National League MVP Award; becoming the first Pirate to claim the award since Barry Bonds in 1992. McCutchen secured 28 of 30 first place votes in the MVP voting batting a sensational .336 from April 30 to the end of the regular season, the best mark in the league. McCutchen was one of three National League players to rank in the top-seven in batting average (.307), on-base percentage (.404), and slugging percentage (.508) and led the Pirates to their first postseason appearance since 1992, defeating Cincinnati in a one-game Wild Card Playoff before meeting fellow NL Central rival, St. Louis in the Divisional Round. The Cardinals pitching staff proved to be too much for Pittsburgh, who could manage only two runs over the final two games of the series, in a five-game series. McCutchen and the Pirates remained one of the NL’s best teams in 2014 earning a second straight postseason appearance, but again ran into elite pitching as San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner delivered a four-hit shutout at PNC Park to lead the Giants to an 8-0 win over the Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game.

A model of consistency, McCutchen homered at least 20 times in each of his final seven seasons with the Pirates. In nine seasons total in the Steel City, McCutchen batted .291/.379/.487 with 203 home runs in 1,346 games. Prior to the 2018 season, the final year of a six-year contract extension he signed before the 2012 campaign, the San Francisco Giants acquired McCutchen and cash considerations for righty Kyle Crick, outfielder Bryan Reynolds and International Bonus Slot Money.

McCutchen’s name rings loudly in the Pirates record books, standing in the top-10 in franchise history in home runs (4th), doubles (9th), RBI (10th), extra-base hits (7th), and walks (7th) as well as the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award; given annually to the Major League player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team. McCutchen also ranks first in PNC Park history in hits (751), home runs (92) and runs batted in (357).

After splitting the 2018 campaign between San Francisco and the New York Yankees, McCutchen signed a three-year free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. A promising 2019 season was cut short due to a torn ACL though McCutchen bounced back with 19 extra base hits in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign that saw him take the field for 57 of a possible 60 games for the Phillies who just narrowly missed the postseason. In 2021, McCutchen turned in his most powerful campaign since 2017 with 27 home runs and 52 extra base hits in 144 games with Philadelphia.

The now 35-year-old outfielder is a free agent after playing 1,761 games across 13 major league seasons. He holds a career batting line of .280/.373/.476 with 270 home runs, 933 runs batted in and 197 career stolen bases.

IF Josh Harrison (2010)

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio native, Harrison was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 6th round of the 2008 Amateur Draft out of the University of Cincinnati. As the 2009 trade deadline approached, the Pirates acquired Harrison in a five-player deal that sent pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to Chicago.

The Pirates identified a speedy player with a versatile glove on the infield and a knack for making solid contact that would blossom into an All-Star contributor for their playoff teams in the mid 2010’s. After finishing off the 2009 season with a Carolina League Championship at High-A, Harrison opened the 2010 season in Altoona with many of his same teammates and immediately established himself as one of the Eastern League’s best hitters.

On Opening Day 2010, Altoona was greeted by a prospect-laden roster that included four of the Pirates Top-10 prospects according to Baseball America and eight of the Top-30 overall prospects. It was also a roster that had veteran talent, and it proved to be the perfect mix to get Altoona off to a nearly perfect start as the club started the season 7-1, a drastic turnaround after starting 2009, 0-8.

Included in those first eight games was one day where everything seemed to fall into place for a memorable afternoon at BCB. After the first three games of the season were played under dreary cold conditions, mother nature opened the skies for a perfect 67-degree day on April 11th when the national spotlight turned to Altoona for the first professional start of Harrisburg Senators phenom Stephen Strasburg. More than 70 media members from around the country and upwards of 7,800 people came to watch the professional debut of the heralded Strasburg on the picture-perfect day in Curve, Pa. The Curve managed to get four runs off the future Major League All-Star but fell 6-4 to the Senators.

Harrison bounced between second and third base that season on the field. He went on to knock 156 hits, tied for the fourth-most in a single season in Curve history. He also set the record for the most doubles in a game with four on June 27 against Bowie. He was selected as an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star.

The Curve remained at the top of the Western Division standings throughout the summer and eventually finished the season with an 82-60 record, the second-most wins in a season in franchise history and the team’s second-ever division title.

Bouncing between second and third base, Harrison finished off the regular season with an even .300 average, 33 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 75 runs batted in. He added 19 stolen bases and played a significant role in Altoona’s push toward the Eastern League Championship. After defeating the Harrisburg Senators in four games, the Curve overcame another Major League All-Star on the mound, New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte, in the opening game of the Eastern League Championship Series and secured their first title in franchise history. During the playoff run, Harrison recorded a team-best 11 hits in eight postseason games and homered three times, matching Chase D’Arnaud and Jordy Mercer for the team lead.

Harrison began the 2011 season with Triple-A Indianapolis and got the call to Pittsburgh for the first time on May 31, 2011 and suited up against the New York Mets, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. His debut season saw him work mostly in a bench role with 65 appearances on the diamond, showcasing a versatile glove and a solid approach at the plate.

After shuttling back and forth between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, Harrison finally took hold of an everyday spot in the starting lineup in 2014. Named to the National League All-Star team that summer, Harrison batted .315 with a career-high 38 doubles, 13 home runs and 52 runs batted in. Harrison’s season finished the season ninth in the MVP voting helping the Pirates to an appearance in the National Wild Card Game. His .315 batting average was second-best in the National League, just behind Colorado’s Justin Morneau.

Harrison picked up a second National League All-Star selection in 2017 with a slight bump in the power department, smashing a career-best 16 home runs, and finished his eighth season with the Pirates in 2018. A .317 hitter in his time in the Steel City, Harrison has since appeared with the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics. Headed into his age-34 season in 2022, Harrison has played in more than 1,000 major league games and holds a career batting average of .277. He is currently a free agent after finishing off the 2021 campaign with 48 appearances with the Athletics.

1B Josh Bell (2015)

A native of Irving, Texas, first baseman Josh Bell roared through the Pirates minor league system and quickly established himself as one of the top power hitters in the National League.

Selected by the Pirates in the second round (61st overall) of the 2011 draft, Bell quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in the Pirates minor league system and in his first full season of professional baseball was named a South Atlantic League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star with the West Virginia Power. Bell batted .279 with a league-best 37 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 52 runs batted in to lead the Power to a Northern Division title and an 82-58 record under future Curve Manager Michael Ryan.

Bell began his 2014 campaign at High-A Bradenton and immediately established himself as one of the leagues best. In a league that was notoriously difficult for young power hitters, Bell grew his game at the plate and found a more contact-oriented approach that led to a third-place finish in batting average (.335) and a 13th place finish in on-base percentage (.385) to go with 20 doubles, four triples ad nine home runs. Named a Mid-Season Florida State League All-Star, Bell earned a late-season promotion to Altoona and batted .284 with seven runs batted in in 24 games. For his outstanding efforts, Bell was named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year, an award he would claim a second time in 2016.

The 2015 Curve opened the season with high expectations as Bell, Tyler Glassnow, Chad Kuhl and Adam Frazier highlighted the star-studded group. Bell, a consensus top-60 prospect in minor league baseball according to multiple outlets, starred in the middle of the order. At age 22, Bell put together another All-Star worthy campaign, earning a selection to the Eastern League’s Mid-Season All-Star team, hosted bt the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field. Bell would also earn a spot in the Futures Game; played in Cincinnati. His 2015 season in Altoona found its way into the record books with a .307 average, the best mark in a single season in franchise history by a switch-hitter. Teaming with Adam Frazier, the Curve had two players bat .300 during the season (minimum 300 plate appearances) for just the fourth time in franchise history. While Bell became one of 12 Curve players to earn a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis during the season, Altoona reached the postseason for the first time since 2010. Under the direction of Manager Tom Prince, Bowie eliminated Altoona in four games, capping off a season in which the Curve had its highest attendance total in nine seasons. The campaign earned the Eastern League’s nomination for the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the top honor in Minor League Baseball.

After spending much of the 2016 season in Triple-A, Bell reached Pittsburgh to make his major league debut. That season saw 14 different Curve alumni make their MLB debut including Alen Hanson, Jameson Taillon, Jacob Stallings, Adam Frazier, Chad Kuhl, Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow, and Max Moroff all debuting with Pittsburgh. Bell made his debut on Friday, July 8, 2016 in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs with a pinch-hit single off Jake Arrieta in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bell would go on to play 45 games in his rookie season with Pittsburgh, batting .273 with a .368 on-base percentage and three home runs.

Bell grew into the starting role in 2017 and blossomed into the one of the National League’s best young players. At just 24 years old, he swatted 26 home runs, good for second-most among NL rookies and his steady presence in the middle of the Pirates order helped him drive in 90 runs and earn a third-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Bell’s 24th home run of the season set the record for most home runs by a rookie switch hitter in major league history.

After managing just 12 home runs in the 2018 season, Bell found his stroke in 2019 and capitalized on his massive power potential. Bell became the fourth player in PNC Park history to hit a ball directly into the Allegheny River on May 8. Just two weeks later he hit another home run into the river as part of dazzling month at the plate. Bell earned the National League Player of the Month in May of 2019 after hitting .390/.442/.797 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 31 runs batted in and 11 walks in 29 games played. Bell became the third player in NL history to log at least 12 doubles and 12 home runs in a single calendar month, joining Hall of Famers Hank Aaron (July 1961) and Frank Robinson (July 1961). Bell’s month of May also saw him record three multi-homer games, the first Pirate to do so since Brian Giles in August 1999.

Bell was named to his first Major League All-Star Game in the summer of 2019. Leading the league with 70 runs batted in and in extra base hits with 54, Bell became the first Pirates first baseman to be named an All-Star since Jason Thompson in 1982.

While the Pirates sagged in the standings, Bell managed to put the finishing touches on an outstanding campaign in 2019. He finished the season ninth in the league with 37 home runs and sixth in the league with 116 runs batted in. Overall, he hit .277/.367/.569 with 37 doubles, three triples and a .936 OPS which ranked tenth-best in the league.

Following a down 2020 season, the Washington Nationals acquired Bell in exchange for RHP Wil Crowe and RHP Eddy Yean and he bounced back with 27 home runs and a .260 average in his first season with the Nats. Through six major league seasons, Bell has hit 113 home runs and holds a .261 career batting average.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

 

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 the Modesto Nuts.

2B Joe Morgan (’63)

Hall-of-Famer Joe Morgan is a NorCal native that began his pro career in Modesto. Morgan went to Castlemont High School in Oakland. He played at Cal Sate – East Bay and Merritt College before he was signed. Over 45 games with Modesto in 1963, Morgan hit .263 while slugging .434. Morgan would reach the big leagues and make his debut later that season as a 19-year-old for the Houston Colt .45s.

Morgan would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. He was a two-time MVP, a two-time World Series champion, a ten-time all-star and a five-time Gold Glove winner.

OF Reggie Jackson (’66)

Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson spent 56 games in Modesto during his first season as a professional. The second overall pick in the 1966 draft went on to provide one of the most spectacular displays of power in franchise history. As a 20-year-old, Jackson smashed 21 home runs in just 56 games. It was a rate of one home run per 11.5 at-bats. The very next season, he made his Major League debut with the Kansas City A’s.

Jackson went on to become one of the greatest sluggers the game has ever seen. He crushed 563 career home runs. He was the 1973 MVP, a 14-time all-star, and a five-time World Champion.

Rickey Henderson (’77)

Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson was drafted in the 4th round of the 1976 draft out of Oakland Technical High School. The next year he made his full-season professional debut in Modesto. He put on a show for the California League. He hit .345 and stole 95 bases in 134 games. Just two years later he made his Major League debut at the age of 20 with the Oakland A’s.

Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. He set the Major League record for stolen bases with 1,406 during his career. He was a ten-time all-star and a two-time World Series Champion.

OF Kyle Lewis (’17-’18)

After being underrecruited out of high school, Lewis attended Mercer University where he electrified college baseball. In 2016, Lewis hit .395 and slugged .731 while crushing 20 home runs in 61 games. Lewis won the Golden Spikes Award that year which is awarded to college baseball’s top player each season.

Later during the 2016 season, Lewis suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of the minor league season that kept him out for an entire year. He would return from the knee injury in June of 2017 with the Modesto Nuts but reaggravated it after just two games. Lewis would return to Modesto again in July. He was able to stay healthy the rest of the year and was an integral part of the Nuts run to the 2017 California League Championship.

Lewis would return to Modesto in 2018 for 49 games where he hit .260 with five home runs. He made his Major League debut in 2019. In 2020, Lewis was named the A.L. Rookie of the Year after batting .262 with 11 home runs in 58 games during the pandemic shortened season for the Mariners.

RHP Reggie McClain (’17-’19)

Reggie McClain was selected in the 13th round of the 2016 draft out of the University of Missouri. The next season he joined Modesto and earn all-star honors after an electrifying first half. McClain spent the entire season pitching in the Nuts’ rotation on a team that won the First Half North Division Championship. That squad would later go to a perfect 6-0 run through the postseason on the way to their first California League Championship since 2004.

McClain returned to Modesto in 2018 but struggled to repeat the same success over 23 starts. Finally, during the winter of ’18-’19, McClain went to the Mariners “Gas Camp” where he added almost ten miles an hour to his fastball. McClain spent a third straight opening day with Modesto at the start of the 2019 season but this time he was working out of the bullpen throwing heat. He quickly zoomed through the Mariners MiLB system until he made his Major League debut on August 2nd, 2019.

Celebrating Black Greenville Drive Players and Coaches

 

As part of Black History Month, and the Drive’s participation in Minor League Baseball’s new “The Nine” initiative, we’ll be spotlighting all of our Black alumni during the month of February. Over the span of the Drive’s 15 seasons, we’ve had 20 Black players, and 7 Black field staff members.

We’ll be highlighting the players in alphabetical order, and concluding with the field staff. This write-up will be added to every week during the month of February, and will include additional photos of each player on Drive social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Luke Bandy, Outfielder // 2021

Began the 2021 season with the Drive…appeared in 19 games (14 in centerfield and 5 in leftfield)…amassed a .972 fielding percentage…hit his first professional home run on May 18th, 2021 at the Asheville Tourists…drafted by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the 2019 MLB Draft…spent three seasons at Dallas Baptist University, where he earned First-Team All-MVC honors as a junior, also being named to the league’s All-Defensive Team

Mookie Betts, Infielder // 2013

One of the Drive’s most heralded alumni…appeared in 76 games with the Drive during the 2013 season, hitting .296 with 8 home runs, 63 runs, 26 RBI, 63 runs scored, 24 doubles, and 18 stolen bases before a July call-up to the Salem Red Sox…was named a mid-season South Atlantic League All-Star…made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on June 29th, 2014 – becoming the 37th Greenville alum to reach the big leagues…in 2018, he became the first player in MLB history to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title, and World Series all in the same season…MLB accomplishments include a 5x All-Star (2016-2019, 2021), 2x World Series Champion (2018, 2020), 2020 MLB First Team (2020), All-MLB Second Team (2019), 4x Silver Slugger (2016, 2018-2020), 5x Gold Glove (2016-2020), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year (2016), and 30/30 Club (2018)

Jackie Bradley, Jr, Outfielder // 2011

Following a standout career at the University of South Carolina, where he was a two-time College World Series Champion (2010, 2011) and named the CWS Most Outstanding Player honors in 2010, was selected 40th overall by the Red Sox in the 2011 MLB Draft…appeared in 4 games with the Drive at the end of the 2011 season, all on the road – which means he’s played more games at Fluor Field as a member of the Gamecocks than he did with the Drive…made his MLB debut on April 1st, 2013 for the Red Sox, becoming the 24th Drive alum to reach the big leagues…in 2016, amassed a 29-game hit streak tying Johnny Damon for the fourth longest in Red Sox franchise history…earned MLB’s AL Player of the Month honors for May 2016…became a World Series Champion and won a Gold Glove in 2018…was named the American League Championship Series MVP in 2018

Ryan Dent, Infielder // 2009

Appeared in 99 games with the Drive in 2009, helping lead the team to the South Atlantic League’s First-Half Southern Division Championship…tied a career-high with 6 homers while, tying for third on the club with 24 doubles…spent 8 seasons in the minors, reaching Triple-A with both the Red Sox (Pawtucket 2012 and 2013) and Cubs (Iowa in 2015) organizations…was a career .236 hitter, totaling 508 hits, 144 doubles, and 288 runs scored…spent the 2019 season with the independent York Revolution, where he was named a mid-season All-Star…originally selected by the Red Sox as the 32nd overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft

Nashville Sounds Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications 

 

The Nashville Sounds Foundation announced today its 2022 Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. The foundation will award four scholarships worth $2,500 each to graduating high school seniors who plan to attend college in the Fall of 2022.

The program, which began in 2016, has awarded $60,000 in scholarships and is designed to assist deserving Nashville and Middle Tennessee students in paying for college tuition during their freshman year.

“The Nashville Sounds Foundation is proud to continue this impactful annual tradition for aspiring college students in the Middle Tennessee area,” said Nashville Sounds General Manager Adam English. “From the donations and fundraising efforts of the foundation to the thoughtful essays put together by students and the letters of recommendation from their teachers and coaches, this is truly a community-wide effort.”

Interested seniors must complete the application process here. The process includes submitting a 250-or-less word essay explaining how diversity and inclusion will impact their time at college.

In addition to the essay, each submission must include at least two letters of recommendation from a teacher and/or coach and an official high school transcript. The scholarship will be awarded based on the culmination of the student’s schoolwork, extracurricular activities and involvement in the community.

Each winner will receive tickets to a select 2022 Nashville Sounds game and a special surprise from the Nashville Sounds Foundation. The deadline to be considered for the 2022 scholarships is Friday, March 18, 2022. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than April 29, 2022.

Winners from 2021 include Solyana Asefa (Middle Tennessee State University), Mary Kathryn Walt (College of Charleston), Marvin Joseph Brown and Rebecca Williams (Columbia University).

The Nashville Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at First Horizon Park. Season ticket memberships for the 2022 season are on sale now. For more information call 615-690-4487 or e-mail [email protected].

About the Nashville Sounds Foundation:

The mission of the Nashville Sounds Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, is to utilize baseball to positively impact the communities throughout Middle Tennessee by emphasizing the importance of social responsibility, education and the power of sport to transform lives.

The Nashville Sounds Foundation is funded through monetary donations, private entities, memorabilia auctions and in-game custom public address announcements.

MiLB adds to inclusion efforts with ‘The Nine’

 

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión — the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Minor League Baseball Announces “The Nine,” a New Initiative to Celebrate, Engage and Welcome Black Fans

NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 1, 2022 — Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) today announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Top 5 Black Players in Sugar Land History 

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.”

As we gear up for the first season in Sugar Land Space Cowboys history, here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up in Sugar Land.

Jeremy Barfield

Jeremy Barfield became the first Sugar Land player to be awarded the Atlantic League Player of the Year, blasting a team-record 27 home runs in 2016. Sugar Land also went on to win its first Atlantic League Championship that season. The son of former Major League All-Star, Jesse Barfield, Jeremy ranks top-10 in the franchise’s independent history in batting average, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI.

Marty Costes

Costes was a fixture in the Sugar Land lineup during the second half of the 2021 season. Costes hit .262 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 40 games with Sugar Land, following a promotion from Double A Corpus Christi. One of those four home runs left his bat at 115 mph, making it the hardest-hit home run in terms of exit velocity hit at Constellation Field in ‘20. Including his time with Corpus Christi, Costes ranked fifth of all MiLB players last season (min. 400 plate appearances) with a .427 on-base percentage.

Ronnie Dawson

Ronnie Dawson was a consistent presence in the Sugar Land lineup during their first season as the Houston Astros Triple A affiliate in 2021. Dawson was tied for fourth on the team with 90 games played and hit .249 with seven home runs and 43 RBI. Dawson quickly emerged as a fan-favorite at Constellation Field for his upbeat style of play and ability to engage with fans. Dawson hit the first-ever Triple A grand slam at Constellation Field on May 30. Dawson also made his Major League debut with the Astros in ‘20 prior to debuting in Sugar Land.

Deacon Jones

While Deacon Jones never donned a Skeeters or Space Cowboys uniform as a player, he’s undoubtedly one of the most influential in the organization’s history. Jones was an instrumental figure in bringing professional baseball to Sugar Land in 2012. He worked with City of Sugar Land officials and leaders of the community to bring a quality baseball product to Constellation Field. Since 2012, he’s served as a Special Advisor in the Sugar Land front office. His No. 4, which he wore as a player, was retired in 2019. He became the first person to have their number retired in the organization’s history. Jones played for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-63, ‘66. He proceeded to have a decades-long coaching and scouting career, which included stints as the hitting coach for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Tracy McGrady

Yes, you read the name correctly. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall-of-Famer had a brief stint in Sugar Land as a pitcher while the club was still playing in the independent Atlantic League. McGrady, who spent six seasons with the Houston Rockets, made four starts for Sugar Land in 2014. He also started the 2014 Atlantic League All-Star Game at Constellation Field. The organization honored McGrady with his own bobblehead night in 2018, as he returned to Constellation Field that night to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Although McGrady’s stint in Sugar Land was brief, he’s positively one of the most iconic players in franchise history.

Bisons join “The Nine”, a new initiative to Celebrate, Engage, and Welcome Black Fans

 

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión — the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Details on ‘The Nine’ celebrations and tributes at Buffalo Bisons home games this season are to be announced.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Dynamic Didi, Record Holder Hamilton Lead Top Black Players In Blue Wahoos History 

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout the month of 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 long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just incredible 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 the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

DIDI GREGORIUS

In the same year he made his major league debut, Didi Gregorius was part of the Blue Wahoos inaugural Opening Day lineup at shortstop on April 5, 2012 in the team’s historic first season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

After signing an international contract at 18-years-old with the Cincinnati Reds, the Amsterdam, Netherlands native had already built acclaim before arriving to Pensacola.

He began that season as the Reds’ No. 6 prospect by Baseball America and was known for being able to speak eight different languages. He played 81 games for the Blue Wahoos in 2012, captivating Pensacola fans with his defensive wizardry, along with speed on the basepaths.

He batted .279 with 31 RBI for the Blue Wahoos, along with eight triples, 11 doubles and a home run. He was named a Southern League All-Star. He quickly became a fan favorite and often engaged with fans during pregame, along with signing autographs.

Gregorius was elevated to Triple-A Louisville in the second half of 2012 and made his MLB debut with the Reds on Sept. 4, 2012 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ironically, he was acquired by the Phillies in 2020 and remains under contract with that team.

BILLY HAMILTON

When Gregorius was promoted in 2012, Billy Hamilton joined the Blue Wahoos from the Cincinnati Reds’ High-A affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. for the second half of that season.

When he got to Pensacola, Hamilton was already well on his way to breaking the Minor League Baseball stolen base record. Anticipation and fan interest then grew with every game, each successful stolen base.

History happened on August 21 at Blue Wahoos Stadium against the Montgomery Biscuits when Hamilton recorded his 146th stolen base, breaking the mark set in 1983 by former St. Louis Cardinals star Vince Coleman when he played for former affiliate Macon (Ga.) Redbirds.

Hamilton’s chase and record-setting feat provided the Blue Wahoos with national attention. It gave the team notice on ESPN and MLB Network and other national media outlets.

Hamilton, a second-round pick by the Reds in 2009 from Taylorsville, Miss., finished with 155 stolen bases in 2012, including 51 with the Blue Wahoos. He played 50 games for Pensacola, batting .286 with five triples, four doubles and one home run that was an all-time memorable inside-the-park HR during a Sunday home game at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

He then returned to loud ovations in 2015 for three games, while on a injury rehab assignment with the Reds.

PHILIP ERVIN

After joining the Blue Wahoos in the second half of the 2015 season, Philip Ervin helped the team make its first post-season appearance under first-year manager Pat Kelly.

The following year, Ervin played 123 games as a versatile outfielder and was a big part of why the Blue Wahoos attained their first winning season in franchise history. He was a key part of the team that won both half-season, division titles in the Southern League before losing in the playoffs.

Ervin, who was the Cincinnati Reds’ first round selection in 2013, collected 100 hits with 45 RBI in 2016 with 13 home runs. He also stole 36 bases. The games he played often had a family contingent of fans. He grew up in Leroy, Alabama, a tiny town 55 miles north of Mobile and played three sports – football, basketball and baseball – at his high school.

During his career at Samford, he was named the MVP of the Cape Cod League, following his sophomore year in 2012. He began 2013 as a preseason All-American and MVP of the Southern Conference.

Ervin made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Reds and played four seasons in the big leagues.

AMIR GARRETT

As part of the Blue Wahoos talented starting rotation in 2016, Garrett put together one of the best years by a pitcher in team history.

Chosen by the Reds in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft out of St. John’s University, the left-handed hurler from Victorville, Calif. rapidly progressed in 2016 to become the Reds Minor League Pitcher of the year, as well as a Southern League All-Star for the Blue Wahoos.

Garrett, a 6-foot-5, former basketball player at St. John’s, compiled a 5-3 record in 12 starts for the Blue Wahoos, but he allowed just 20 runs in that span with only 15 earned runs. He did not allow a home run in any appearance. His 1.75 earned run average with the Blue Wahoos led all Reds’ minor league pitchers that season.

He played in the Sirius-XM Futures Game after being promoted to Triple-A Louisville on June 17 that season. He threw two hitless innings in the game.

Garrett made his MLB debut in 2017 and figures to again be part of the Reds starting rotation in 2022.

SHED LONG

The Blue Wahoos championship season in 2017 included outfielder Shed Long, who then returned in 2018 to have a big year in the team’s final season as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate.

Long, a Birmingham native, was a 12th round selection by the Reds in 2013. He bypassed a potential college football career to play professional baseball. In 2018, Long batted a team-high .261 in 126 games and his 56 RBI were second-best. He was a Southern League All Star selection that year.

He finished the season leading the Blue Wahoos with most at-bats, runs scored (75), hits (118), doubles (22), triples (5) total bases and walks (57). His 19 steals tied for team best.

Following the 2018 season in Pensacola, Long became an Arizona Fall League All-Star. He was then traded by the Reds to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal with the New York Yankees.

After spending parts of the past three seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners, where Long made his MLB Debut in 2019, he is now a free agent.

Bats Join MiLB In Launch Of “The Nine” Outreach Program

 

LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Louisville Bats, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, today announced the team will be at the forefront of a nation-wide outreach program to help connect Black communities to baseball. The new program, “The Nine,” will feature local outreach initiatives from 60 participating teams across Minor League Baseball during the 2022 season.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Bats initiatives for The Nine during the 2022 season will include:

  1. Dedicating a memorial at Eastern Cemetery for Felton Snow, a former baseball player for the Louisville Black Caps and Louisville White Sox of the Negro Southern League. The Bats, Louisville’s chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Louisville Urban League and Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory will help host a special recognition ceremony for the dedication later this season.
  2. The Bats front office staff will completely renovate two youth baseball fields at Shawnee Park this March. All labor will be volunteers and the Bats’ staff will be joined by participants from the Louisville Sports Commission and HUMANA.
  3. Continuing the “Playing it Forward” initiative with item drives for youth sports equipment during the 2022 baseball season. The Bats have partnered with Humana and Louisville Sports Commission each of the last three years for the campaign, working to provide new or gently-used youth baseball or softball equipment to low-and moderate-income families.
  4. Paying tribute and honoring the history of the former Negro League teams of Louisville on Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Indianapolis.

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For additional information on The Nine, visit MiLB.com.

Baysox & MiLB adds to inclusion efforts with ‘The Nine’

 

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión — the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.