LOS ANGELES -- On Sunday evening, the rooftop of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live played host to a star-studded event of movers and shakers. But instead of the music industry, they came from throughout the game of baseball.

As part of All-Star Week, The Players Alliance -- a nonprofit founded in 2020 by Black current and retired professional baseball players to increase African American representation in the sport -- held an inaugural “Game Changers Celebration,” seeking to honor Black playmakers in the game and in the community while raising awareness for the organization’s mission. Eight-time All-Star Darryl Strawberry, two-time All-Star Eric Davis, two-time softball Olympic medalist Natasha Watley and Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts made up the group’s first four honorees.

As the event’s attendees walked the black carpet, MLB.com caught up with the Alliance’s board of directors and those special guests, along with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, chief baseball development officer Tony Reagins, special assistant to the Commissioner Billy Bean and executive director of the MLB Players Association Tony Clark.

They all spoke to the importance of the Alliance’s work, the need to grow the game from the ground up and the efforts being made to make baseball a sport everyone can see a place for themselves in.

Edwin Jackson (founder and secretary), Adam Jones (member), Curtis Granderson (board chair) and CC Sabathia (Vice Chair) have led the Players Alliance since its inception, helming the “Gear for Good” 33-city tour that brought COVID-19 supplies, food and baseball equipment to the underserved in Black communities.

Jackson: "It’s imperative for us to be hands-on. We can get a lot of monetary donations we want. We can donate all the equipment that we want. But if the community doesn't see us, it’s not as monumental as just coming in person. … It’s imperative for us to be leaders, like the generation before us were leaders to myself. We have to continue to give them something to strive for and be an inspiration for them to follow a dream."

Jones: "We have a lot of players now that aren’t playing anymore. We got time. We’re either golfing or trying to make an impact. So this is a great way for us to give back our knowledge and our fortune to the game. We’ve been very blessed by this great game, so it’s upon us to pass this game down to the next generation."

Granderson: "No matter where we go, we always want to make sure we have our input and impact in the communities that are like us. That's the main thing about it. Seeing is believing, and when you get a chance to be around someone that looks like you, you go, ‘I think I can do that.'"

Sabathia: "To give kids an opportunity to play means everything for me. I felt, when I was playing, that the kids weren't playing in our community, and that's not true. I've been out on the circuit the last few years and it makes me proud to see that these kids love baseball. And hopefully they can see the Players Alliance and see us and be inspired to play more baseball."

As the board shared, they wanted the celebration to honor legends who made a difference in Los Angeles, which led them to Strawberry, Davis, Watley and Betts. As the event continues in years to come, they will continue to look for game changers from each All-Star host city.

Strawberry: "The impact that we had in the game in the ‘80s was phenomenal -- power, speed and being able to do it all. Coming out of Los Angeles, California, and playing together growing up, it’s such a great honor to be recognized for that. I think a lot of times some players don’t remember the guys that opened the door. And other players opened the door for me to come to the big leagues. We have a chance to be able to open the door for our younger players to come behind us. It’s all about opportunity."

Davis: "We have to be heard. And the only way you can do that is to get down in the trenches and let them know that we’re here to stay. You have to water the seeds; you can’t just let them dry out. And that’s what we’re going to do. … It was part of my heritage growing up; I was always taught it’s better to give than receive."

Watley: "So many times, a lot of young athletes of color don’t think that softball, baseball is for them. And so I think that’s what organizations like Players Alliance do, and that’s what tonight’s about -- letting them know that this game is welcoming and that it is for you."

Betts: "Everything that the Players Alliance means aligns with me and my heart. It’s a super special thing to be a part of. They’re on the right track. You’ve got to start somewhere. Starting here, I think they caught a couple eyes, and now this is going to continue to do the things that we’re doing.”

During All-Star Week in 2021, MLB committed up to $150 million to The Players Alliance over a 10-year period, which is dedicated to a variety of programs around participation in baseball, mentorship and professional development. That’s in addition to several MLB Develops programs the league has initiated in recent years, including the Hank Aaron Invitational, Breakthrough Series and Dream Series.

Manfred: "I think the most important thing is our goals and the Alliance’s goals are really aligned. It’s all about making sure that we have a very diverse group of young people engaging with our game. The best way to get younger people interested in the game is through former players, and so they’re a perfect fit for us."

Bean: "We’ve had many, many stakeholders in the African American community working for the Office of the Commissioner and our 30 Clubs. But this takes us to a whole new level, with their input and ideology, understanding how we communicate, how we relate all the way around. We just got smarter, we got better, and we’re going to see results soon."

Clark: "This group is doing everything they possibly can to affect positive change and provide the next generation with a better opportunity. With these guys, it’s not a surprise. I’m excited for them and hopeful that the line continues to move in the right direction as we all try to get our game back to where it should be."

Reagins: "We have to continue to keep pushing. I think we’re just scratching the surface of what we can be, what we should be. There’s a lot of work that’s being done behind the scenes. It takes us all as a collective group to work together in order for us to accomplish our goals."