KEN GRIFFEY JR., MLB AND THE MLBPA ANNOUNCE THE INAUGURAL “HBCU SWINGMAN CLASSIC”
Major League Baseball (MLB), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. jointly announced today the launch of the inaugural “HBCU Swingman Classic,” an annual All-Star experience for baseball student-athletes from Division-I programs at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU). The philanthropic & educational event, which will center around an “All-Star” Game, will be held during 2023 MLB All-Star Week in July at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, the franchise for which Griffey Jr. played for 13 seasons during his legendary career.
The HBCU Swingman Classic, which will be powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, will highlight the history and legacy of HBCU baseball programs while also providing 50 HBCU baseball players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage. The student-athletes will be selected by a committee that will include Griffey Jr., representatives from MLB and MLBPA, and scouts. Additional details about the HBCU Swingman Classic will be announced in the months ahead.
While the event will bring exposure and opportunities to the athletes selected, it will be equally impactful to the youth in Seattle who get to experience the legacy and excitement of HBCU baseball.
The news of this event and future events surrounding the MLB All-Star festivities in Seattle is not only great for baseball, but it will serve as a catalyst for our African-American community,” Baseball Beyond Borders founder Bookie Gates said. “Seattle now will be the epicenter for a week that will give visibility to HBCU student-athletes and local youth who desire to see themselves in the sport. Access and opportunity is what our kids need, and the HBCU Swingman Classic will provide it.”
The access for the youth is one of the most important things in Bookie’s mission to grow the game. Events like this will continue to provide role models and representation for kids in the sport.
This years World Series was the first in 72 years not to feature a single US-Born Black baseball player. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker told media he is “ashamed of the game.”
“I don't think that's something that baseball should really be proud of. It looks bad. It lets people know that it didn't take a year, or even a decade to get to this point,” Baker told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Baker did say that there is hope on the horizon. The Swingman Classic is one move which many hope will bring Black youth back to the game and inspire them to participate.
You can learn more about the HBCU Swingman Classic here
