High school stars honor history, show out at Double Duty Classic 

CHICAGO -- The annual Double Duty Classic (DDC) All-Star Game took place on Wednesday at Rate Field, featuring 41 of the best inner-city high school players from around the country.

The DDC celebrates the history and tradition of the Negro Leagues in Chicago and is named after Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe. Radcliffe played in the Negro Leagues and coined the name “Double Duty” after catching the first game of a doubleheader and pitching the second game later that day.

“It’s exciting,” former Negro League player Dennis Biddle said after throwing out the first pitch. “I love baseball, but it's in honor of a person that I love dearly. I played with him. As a matter of fact, he caught my first professional game, and through the years, I've spent a lot of time with him. So when I get a chance to come and celebrate him, I'll be there.”

In Wednesday's DDC All-Star Game, players donned retro uniforms honoring historic Negro Leagues East-West All-Star teams. The East wore cream uniforms while the West sported navy blue ones.

The East All-Stars emerged victorious in this nine-inning clash against the West All-Stars by a score of 7-2. The East struck first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout from Mario Medina and then added on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The highlight of that four-run fifth inning was Amira Hondras lining a two-run single off the bench to tack on some runs. Hondras was the only female to play in Wednesday’s classic and made history in 2020 as the first woman to make the White Sox ACE program. She also stole third base later in that frame.

“Being the first female to play in this game means a lot,” Hondras said. “It shows that girls can play at this level too. Hopefully, I was able to show the younger generation of girls that they can play at this high level with the boys.”

This DDC event is another opportunity for players to be recognized by scouts in attendance. Those who have yet to commit to a school have the chance to show their potential against some of the best inner-city players in the country.

One player who took advantage of that on Wednesday night was outfielder O’Neil Wright. Wright came into the Classic uncommitted and went 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI, four stolen bases and two runs scored. Those numbers helped the Wisconsin native win the Minnie Miñoso MVP Award, named after the White Sox Hall of Famer.

“It means more than I can really describe,” Wright said. “It’s a great way to honor the people who came before me, wearing these jerseys during that time, and I think it was a great way to continue the legacy of the new ballplayers who have gotten it recently.”

The DDC has become a pathway for high schoolers looking to get recognized. 49 former DDC players have been selected in the MLB Draft since it was established. Notable Major League and Minor League players like Alek Thomas, Jarred Kelenic, Sir Jamison Jones, Isaiah Coupet, Corey Ray and Ed Howard have all played in the DDC.

Not only were Ray (Brewers) and Howard (Cubs) both former first-round picks in the MLB Draft, but both players were a part of the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program. Several players in Wednesday’s DDC are also currently part of that ACE program, which focuses on giving them resources to succeed on and off the field.

“I feel like the biggest thing I've learned was just to stay true to myself,” Hondras said. “Just having confidence in myself, and I'm super grateful for the guys that have supported me. Just super grateful for the ACE program and all they’ve done for me.”

The ACE program was created back in 2007 to help “reverse the declining interest and participation in baseball among African American youth, while offering resources and mentorship to pull kids away from the dangers of some of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods.” This program has done that and more over the past 18 years.

Since ACE's inception, 30 participants have been drafted by 16 different Major League teams, and over 300 participants have earned scholarships to top colleges.

“It's just a beautiful, amazing experience,” Wright said. “It's not a usual thing to be on Rate Field, playing in front of a community that has your back. So it was really empowering. I’m just really grateful and blessed for the experience.”