Tag: Baseball

“Goody’s” Volunteers Make MVP Baseball A Success

By Michael July 23, 2018 Off

I first met Greg “Goody” Goodwin in the late 1980s. He was sitting in a jury box in a Dekalb County, Georgia courtroom. He had been summoned to jury duty. It’s safe to say there were no volunteers in that jury box.

I was a young personal injury lawyer and had been pulled into a felony murder trial by a maintenance worker in the office tower where my law office was located. My specialty was negotiating “road wreck” cases and not maneuvering my clients away from a murder conviction under a “party to a crime” prosecution. read more

MVP Baseball Tourney Brings Out Pro Scouts

By Michael July 21, 2018 Off

It started out 16 years ago as a national Black World Series for high school baseball players. A national promoter thought Atlanta was the perfect place to host such an event. The first year was a big success.

Two young men from that showcase, Jason Heywood and Jeremy Beckham were signed to professional contracts. Heywood signed with the Atlanta Braves. While Beckham signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. read more

HBCU Baseball Coaches Flock To MVP Tourney

By Michael July 20, 2018 Off

Now that college baseball has crowned champions in all divisions of play, college coaches are roaming the countryside. They are in search of the next crop of baseball talent that can place their baseball programs on the map or to keep them on their winning paths.

Each July, Mentoring Viable Prospects (MVP) host a premiere showcase of Black baseball talent. Teams come from across the United States to display their talent to college coaches and professional scouts. read more

Braves First 44 Classic Brings Out Top Black Talent

By Michael June 23, 2018 Off

When the Atlanta Braves hosted the Baltimore Orioles today during a week long tribute to Henry Aaron, presented by Delta Airlines, they placed a team on the field with only one Black American on their 25 man roster.He is left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman.

Freeman was born in Houston, Texas in 1987.

Contrast this with the Braves in 1974, the year that Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record by blasting his 715th homer early in that season. The Braves had a total of 7 Blacks on its 25 man roster. read more

Wilbert Ellis: The Embodiment of the Spirit of Grambling

By Michael May 23, 2018 Off

I met former Grambling baseball coach Wilbert Ellis at a baseball game in New Orleans, Louisiana,  sitting in the bleachers of Wesley Barrow Stadium . He was surrounded by a faithful entourage; holding court on the nature of the competition in the Southwestern Athletic Conference 2018 Baseball Championship. read more

SIAC Baseball Tourney Offers Life Lessons

By Michael May 8, 2018 Off

On May 4, at the SIAC Baseball Tournament, my alma mater,Tuskegee University, was preparing to play a baseball game that  would put them in position to play in the championship game, if they won.

A Tuskegee player ran pass me and said, “Mr. Harvey, you know anything about this.”

I smiled and replied, “Yeah, I’ve been here before.” read more

Albany State Wins SIAC Baseball Championship

By Michael May 7, 2018 Off

The Albany State Golden Rams (28-16) defeated the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds to win the 2018 SIAC Baseball Championship. Coming into the tournament Albany State was ranked third in the Black College Nines Poll of small HBCUs.

On their way to the conference championship, Albany State knocked off Miles College, the number one ranked team in the Black College Nines Poll, by a score of 8-3. read more

Morehouse Baseball Plays First D-1 Baseball School

By Michael March 7, 2018 Off

They have been playing baseball at Morehouse College since the 1890s. The school discontinued baseball briefly, but resumed it.

Over at Georgia State University, they started playing baseball in 1956, about the time that Donn Clendenon was graduating from Morehouse and was faced with a dilemma, whether to become the first Black male elementary school teacher in Macon, Georgia, or whether to play professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates . read more

ATL Metro RBI Plans Spring HBCU Baseball Showcase

By Michael March 6, 2018 Off

Seeking to help bring awareness to HBCU baseball, the ATL Metro RBI board of directors recently voted to host a baseball showcase of high school talent in the metro Atlanta area.

Plans call for a 36 team three day tournament in mid-May. The tournament will guarantee each team four games. This will give each team and players a chance to adequately showcase the unique skills they bring to the game. read more