Swingman Classic highlights the amazing culture of HBCUs

ARLINGTON -- Texas Southern’s band, the “Ocean of Soul” echoed throughout the Rangers’ home of Globe Life Field.

During pregame ceremonies, representatives from each of the “Divine Nine” Black Greek organizations lined the infield dirt as Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin and his gospel choir performed the "Star Spangled Banner" and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

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The Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, exclaimed “Play Ball” as the second annual HBCU Swingman Classic Presented by T-Mobile kicked off on Friday night.

As much as the second annual HBCU Swingman Classic was about the play on the field -- Ken Griffey Sr.’s American League squad edged out Lloyd McClendon’s National League team, 5-4 -- it was about the culture of HBCUs throughout the ballpark as a crowd of 16,467 cheered on the two All-Star groups.

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“Not having gone to an HBCU myself, I love it,” said Mark McLemore, the hitting coach for the American League squad. “I love it. This Classic, man, is putting the spotlight on some players that don't have the visibility that they deserve. To see the culture itself is nice.

“It's a lot like when you go to Latin countries and you watch Latin baseball in their country, it gets a different flavor. It’s the same with HBCU baseball, there's no question. I'm glad [Griffey Jr.] came up with the idea. He's the perfect guy to do it, just spearhead it. And man, I'm so glad it’s here in Texas.”

Ken Griffey Jr. has been at the forefront of everything to do with the HBCU Swingman Classic long before the inaugural event last year in Seattle.

With a star-studded coaching staff, including his father and a number of other Black former big leaguers, being around players that look like you and the culture you represent has been one of the biggest impacts as the Classic grows each year.

“I was fortunate enough to play the game that I love and I was also fortunate to have a dad that played,” Griffey Jr. said. “I didn't have to fight and claw from scratch to be seen. These kids, we want them to live their dream. Twenty years from now, we want them to be doing the interview. Our country is about the youth. It's not about the older generation. It’s about how we can make it better for them.”

In order to do that, Griffey has dedicated time to spotlighting HBCUs and what they can do for young Black players.

For Trenidad Hubbard, one of the AL base coaches and a former big leaguer, that’s been true for him since his time at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., in the 1980s. It’s an opportunity that many won’t experience again when their time at their respective HBCUs is over.

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“I'll tell you what, this is a unique experience for these young players,” Hubbard said. “For me, it started at Southern and it was a different energy. That red beans and rice flavor. I feel it, I feel it in the air. I think that's a different vibe. This place is vibing and these players get it. But more than that, I want them to express their God-given abilities and have fun with it. ... In your own ecosystem, you are shining and you are arriving. If you give them a shot, they’ll show you.”

The game’s MVP, Tigers Borom of Grambling State, said his favorite part of the week was just being around all the players from other HBCUs and getting to know guys he may have never met without this opportunity.

To be able to have fun and thrive in an environment that craves that type of flair.

“It was a beautiful feeling,” Boron said. “We don't always get this opportunity to put ourselves on the stage and I'm thankful to guys that put this all together. I just want to thank God as well. ... These boys, they're crazy. When we play the game like that, it's fun. We play free and that's what we showed tonight.”

Griffey Sr. and McClendon both said they got emotional when speaking to their respective teams today, taking note that there are never this many Black players on a baseball field together. The players were having fun, and the fans were enthusiastic. It was all they could ask for in an event like this.

“I was extremely proud to be able to sit in a room and see so much talent, so many good young ballplayers with tremendous character,” McClendon said. “They were nice, they were intelligent, they were well spoken, they were respectful. And they were Black. It really touched me. I just hope that one day this can be part of the norm and not something that we have to talk about in such a way and it could just be part of baseball.”