DENVER -- Rockies veteran Matt Kemp broke into baseball with the Dodgers, where Negro Leagues legends still resonate.

“I was pretty lucky to come up in an organization that was close to the Negro Leagues -- Jackie Robinson and Don Newcombe came up in that organization,” Kemp said. “I’ve got a lot of stories about just being close to Don Newcombe, Frank Robinson, Maury Wills -- all those guys. They really taught us and really loved what was going on in the Negro Leagues.”

As MLB celebrated the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Negro Leagues on Sunday, Kemp, 35, thanked those before him and discussed embracing mentorship.

Kemp is a member of The Players Alliance, a collection of 124 current and former Black Major League players that is working for a more inclusive culture within the sport, and is also pushing for racial equality and justice in society as a whole. Players are backing their involvement with their time, money (the group has donated $41.7 million to Black communities, according to its website) and values.

Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond, who elected not to play this season, is also part of The Players Alliance.

“We’re definitely making sure that we’re heard, but during the season it’s a little tough right now,” Kemp said. “We’re not able to get out in those communities and do some of the things we want to as far as speaking to the kids. I’m still giving back to some of the communities where I live in Texas, but it’s hard because of COVID. We can’t really be out in the community around a lot of people right now.”

The Players Alliance was launched with a viral social justice video -- directly calling for fans who cheer for them to join in speaking out on painful social issues such as police killings, and help work toward equality -- and announced officially on Opening Day. MLB has offered The Players Alliance its support.

Per analysis by USA Today, less than 8 percent of players on Major League rosters are Black, down from the 1986-high of 19 percent, according to the Associated Press. (At one time in the 1970s the figure was reported at 27 percent, but that included dark-skinned Latin players.) The group was formed partly to fight the isolation players may feel when speaking up.

Kemp, who appeared in the video, exemplifies the energy the group is showing as it navigates the many issues that must be addressed.

“I think The Players Alliance has done an unbelievable job, and it’s opened a lot of eyes around baseball,” Kemp said. “Major League Baseball has backed The Players Alliance, and they're doing a lot of great things. We're excited to be able to use our voices to show some of the concern about what's going on in the world right now and bring it to light.”

Kemp said those who try to drown out the current moment aren't hampering the support he has received and momentum he has observed.

“I don’t think we’re too worried about the opinions of people who think this is a negative thing or something we shouldn’t be doing,” he said. “There’s been a lot more positive feedback than there has been negative feedback. Everybody has an opinion about things going on in the country right now. Only thing we’re trying to do is make a bigger impact and make changes in our country right now.”

Black on learning about the Negro Leagues
Rockies manager Bud Black established himself as a player in the Majors with the Royals in Kansas City, where the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum would open in 1990, and he had many mentors who taught him the importance of players and teams who were denied opportunities.

"Buck O'Neil became somebody that I had conversations with,” Black said, referring to Negro Leagues legend with an award in his namesake. “He shared a lot of great history with me about the Negro Leagues. Some of the older players, Dusty Baker, who I played under [with the Giants] -- had a lot of knowledge, full of history of the Negro Leagues.

“Some great players that we never really got to see play -- Satchel Paige among others -- being the baseball fan that I am, they were interesting to me, to get to know their stories.”

Dahl frustrated, but working
Sunday was the second straight day out of the lineup for outfielder David Dahl, an All-Star last year who has been struggling. The 26-year-old is on an 0-for-15 streak with eight strikeouts and no home runs over a trying 18-game stretch since Opening Day.

“He’s working on some things within his swing and hitting mechanics to keep him more up the middle and the other way,” Black said. “He’s talented enough to instinctively react to a fastball inside or pitches on the inside part of the plate.”