HBCU Seattle Series: A Grand Slam for Community and Culture
Bookie Gates, founder of Baseball Beyond Borders is excited about the upcoming HBCU Seattle Series. (Photo: BBB)
By Omari Salisbury
"We're excited to bring forth the HBCU Seattle Series," exclaims Bookie Gates, the driving force behind this groundbreaking initiative and founder of Baseball Beyond Borders.
The HBCU Seattle Series, a three-game baseball showdown between Coppin State University, a historically black college and university (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland, and Seattle University, will occur at Bannerwood Park (Bellevue) from March 14th through the 16th. This event celebrates HBCU athletics, provides a platform for athletes to gain greater visibility, and beautifully blends community and culture.
Baseball Beyond Borders: Creating Access and Opportunity
The HBCU Seattle Series is presented by Baseball Beyond Borders (BBB), a sports-based youth development organization founded in 2014. With a mission of creating access and opportunity for youth of color to play baseball and preserve the historical legacy of Negro League Baseball. BBB has cultivated deep roots in the Seattle area, particularly in South King County. Their partnerships with organizations such as the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program highlight their commitment to developing young athletes both on and off the field.
BBB's influence goes beyond simply teaching baseball skills. Their partnership with the Seattle Mariners Training Centers offers a nurturing environment where young athletes can train, dream, and develop leadership skills and community engagement.
Building on the Legacy of the Swingman Classic
The inspiration for the HBCU Seattle Series can be traced back to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, which hosted the inaugural Swingman Classic, a showcase of top HBCU All-Stars. "That moment was one that I think we all came to recognize and felt the excitement to see historically black college university ballplayers in our city and to be able to showcase their talents in the Northwest," reflects Gates.
The Swingman Classic sparked a passion for HBCU baseball in Seattle, and the HBCU Seattle Series aims to nurture and expand that enthusiasm. "Since then, it's obviously been a priority for us to preserve HBCU baseball and create a lasting connection in the Northwest."
VIDEO: HBCU Swingman Classic 2023 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. (Back2Besa FOX 13 Seattle)
Showcasing HBCU Excellence
The series provides a stage to showcase the excellence of HBCU athletics to the Northwest community. It aims to give athletes greater visibility and forge sustainable partnerships celebrating diversity.
"We also want to bring the culture of the historically black college universities to Bannerwood Park," says Gates, emphasizing the importance of creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. "That's what we're really trying to push when we get people out to Bannerwood Park to not only... see the showcase, but enjoy the culture and see the future of baseball. "
Community and Collaboration
The HBCU Seattle Series exemplifies the positive outcomes achievable through community and collaboration. It's a partnership between Baseball Beyond Borders, Seattle University, Coppin State University, and the Seattle Mariners, with support from local businesses and media.
"Seattle University, when I had the conversation and shared this vision with [Coach Donny Harrell], he says, 'I currently got a team slotted in this weekend, but I will remove them and we can place an HBCU team in there,'" Gates shares, highlighting the collaborative spirit that has made this series possible.
Economic Empowerment and Community Growth
The series isn't just about baseball; it's also about economic empowerment and community building. "We also want to do some economic empowerment," Gates asserts. "I think it will go beyond simply a baseball game; we're also talking about the economic growth of a community."
The vision for the HBCU Seattle Series extends far beyond this year's event. "As we look at future iterations of the HBCU Seattle series, we want to make this bigger and better every single year," Gates envisions. "Four or five years from now, we're talking about having a round-robin series where we can have four to six HBCU programs here in the Northwest competing against a few of our collegiate programs up here like Seattle University, Washington State University, or maybe even the University of Washington."
Preserving the Legacy of Black Baseball
The HBCU Seattle Series also aims to preserve the legacy of Black baseball and ensure that it continues to flourish for generations to come. "I think it's important that there's some historical preservation," Gates emphasizes. "And I think it's important that the game that I love so much and I think that many others love, they just have yet to be exposed... we're going to really see the fandom of baseball pick up."
VIDEO: Learn more about Coppin State University
A Game That Teaches Life Lessons
For Gates, baseball is more than just a sport; it's a game that teaches valuable life lessons. "Baseball teaches a lot of life lessons," he says. "It's the only game you can have success when you fail."
The HBCU Seattle Series embodies this spirit, providing opportunities for young athletes to learn, grow, and succeed both on and off the field.
Join the Movement
The HBCU Seattle Series movement is gaining momentum, and there are numerous ways to get involved. Whether you're a fan, a business, or a community organization, your support can make a difference.
"We need those supports so that we can allow for our black brands and those within the community to have visibility and want to support to be able to jump right in and contribute," Gates urges.
A Bright Future
The HBCU Seattle Series represents a bright future for HBCU athletics, Black baseball, and the Seattle community. It exemplifies the power of sports to unite, inspire, and create lasting change.
As Gates eloquently puts it, "It's up to us to step to the plate and create these opportunities to ensure that the communities have access to not only just the competition but also celebrating culture and really falling in love with this game. Again, it's a beautiful game."
More Information: Bookie Gates - bookie@baseballbeyond.org
