DENVER -- More than 100 Black current and former Major League players formed the Players Alliance in June 2020 out of a sense of awareness -- a trait that has allowed the group to address myriad needs. The organization nimbly shifted its emphasis from increasing Black baseball participation to assisting communities with basic needs.
This was one of the topics covered Saturday night in a panel discussion that was part of MLB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s speaker series called Unfiltered. The series, covering diversity and inclusion-focused topics, is designed to raise awareness and educate in a candid manner.
Saturday's discussion, called Amplified, was moderated by MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds, and included representatives from the Players Alliance, MLB and the Denver business and political worlds. They discussed a wide range of baseball and social subjects at MBP restaurant in the Five Points section of Denver. Panelists even addressed the touchy subject of being in Denver, which was awarded Tuesday night’s All-Star Game and all its festivities after MLB pulled the game from Atlanta following the Georgia legislature’s passage of voting restrictions.
The Players Alliance was born of a sense of a duty after players, along with the world, witnessed the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and saw social justice come to the forefront last summer. And as COVID-19 shut down the country, but more importantly devastated daily life (especially for the poor), the Players Alliance put action behind its aspirations.
Various pull-up events began as an idea to distribute baseball equipment, but quickly became just as vital for handing out much-needed basic supplies -- and contributing to the needs for families.
“The community is us, and we're part of the community,” said Players Alliance president Curtis Granderson, a former outfielder and three-time All-Star. “People forget that as baseball players, we came from areas like Five Points. Our families grew up there, our grandparents grew up there. Some of us grew up in situations where we didn't know where our next meal was coming from.
“My parents were educators, they talked about those stories where the only time I see so-and-so is when he knows he hasn't had something to eat. So these are stories that resonate with us as players, as individuals, as dads, as sons, as brothers. And we never forgot that side of it, no matter what city we played in, that was our home during the season.”
Here are other discussion highlights:
Black baseball participation
The days of 15 or 16 Black players on a team are long gone, but Reynolds noted participation is rising after a precipitous drop. Still there are obstacles such as the cost of travel ball, which has become the vogue way to pursue scouting attention (even though scouts will find a good player). Another issue is that the NCAA parses 11.7 scholarships among an entire baseball team (while other sports offer starting and reserve players full scholarships).
“My younger son is going to play college football at Yale -- he had 15 college offers,” said Michele Meyer-Shipp, MLB's chief people and cultural officer. “And he has a friend who plays baseball, and he had no offers that involved scholarships. That’s an example of how it works -- I’m living it.”
Part of the Players Alliance plan is to be as visible as possible, so young athletes have tangible examples. That philosophy is being lived in business by Matthew Burkett, founder of The Flyfisher Group -- which has been investing in Five Points area for nearly 20 years to stem and reverse effects of gentrification.
“The whole concept of ‘see it to be it’ is a big deal,” said Burkett, who also is a fly fisherman and passes on that hobby through his visibility. “It's hard to think that you could own a restaurant if you've never seen anybody or talked to anybody that owns a restaurant. Hard to think that you can play Major League ball if you don't see somebody who can show you what the path is.”
The move from Atlanta
The switch was not made lightly. But Edwin Jackson -- who pitched in 17 seasons for 14 teams through 2019, will pitch for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics and still would like to continue his career -- grew up in Columbus, Ga. He understands the impact.
“I discussed it with my parents,” Jackson said. “I discussed it with different people from throughout the communities. And I've discussed it with a lot of different players, and everyone was on board with it. It was the right thing to do.
“But we do have plans to go back to Atlanta and give back to the communities in major ways. And hopefully, we can get something resolved where we can go back to the city and get back to the city.”
Meyer-Shipp noted that the league is in contact with the Atlanta business community, especially its minority business council.
But Granderson noted, “We have players whose parents fought for some of those rules and laws that are now being changed.”
Murphy Robinson, Denver deputy mayor and director of department of public safety, stands proud of Colorado’s inclusive voting laws, even as representatives work to protect and advance voting rights. And when Mayor Michael Hancock texted him on Easter Sunday for a 7 p.m. emergency cabinet meeting to discuss moving the All-Star Game to Denver. The city was ready to capitalize on the opportunity to highlight itself.
“We know how to make good things and get things done quickly,” Robinson said. “So the question is, can we do it? Of course, I said, a resounding yes. Let's go.”