For former MLB players, 'it's about passing it forward' at DREAM Series
Matthew Ritchie
@mkrwrtTEMPE, Ariz. -- Besides a slew of loving parents braving the subpar temperatures to watch their children participate at MLB’s DREAM Series over the weekend, and the occasional camera crew taking a break from countless interviews, there was a curious third genre of onlooker at Tempe Diablo Stadium over the past couple of days. The autograph chaser, constantly on the hunt, craving a John Hancock worthy of a couple of bucks down the road.
And while it may be a tad too early to be hunting autographs of the participants at the DREAM Series -- who are still just elite high school prospects hoping to develop and soak all the knowledge they can to reach the next level -- it does make sense why the autograph hounds would be on hand, if you look at the list of coaches and instructors.
Between all of them: There are 143 years of MLB playing experience, two World Series titles, two League Championship MVPs, four Gold Gloves, six All-Star appearances, nine years of managing experience in the form of Jerry Manuel and countless years in the Minors and coaching positions.
But in asking any of them, there’s a sneaking suspicion that they’re most proud of the work they do now -- helping to guide the next generation of Black baseball players as elder statesmen in the community.
“Part of me feels like it’s a detriment if I don’t do what I’m doing,” said former infielder Howie Kendrick, who returned to help instruct at the DREAM Series for the second consecutive year. “Because the guys that gave me that information, somebody gave it to them, and somebody had to help them along the way. I would be wasting the talent and info I was given if I wasn’t giving back to these kids. … It’s not about me, it’s about passing it forward.”
Many of these instructors, imbued with a passion for ensuring that the potential talent pool for future generations in baseball continues to look more diverse, are informed by the era they grew up and played in.
Former reliever LaTroy Hawkins remembers growing up a Cubs fan in Gary, Ind., and turning on the TV to see the likes of Fergie Jenkins and Lee Smith give him Black pitching idols to look up to. Kendrick grins as he recalls the golden days of watching Tony Gwynn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Andre Dawson strike fear into the eyes of their opponents with excellence on both sides of the ball.
But their playing days coincided with the sharp decline of Black participation at the Major League level since early 1990s. And while it can be difficult to keep an eye on the trends as you focus on making a living for yourself, the ability to see how the landscape changed in front of their eyes has only motivated their willingness to support, in any way they can.
“Fast forward, I started playing and every year I got this article, or would get interviewed about it like, ‘Hey, the league is only 7.6% African-American,’” Hawkins said. “Now, you’re in it, you start to really pay attention to what’s going on and what’s happened. You just try to do your best to change the narrative, do your all to help the next generation that’s coming next.”
“I played 17 years, and by year 10, I knew exactly what I wanted to do after I retired,” said former outfielder Marquis Grissom. “I was going to start my own organization, and help young African-American kids get an opportunity to learn the game and play the game.”
And while a significant percentage of these efforts begin at the local level -- like Grissom’s work with youth baseball in Atlanta, or the numerous RBI programs across the country -- the consolidation of focused attention and care coming from the former Major Leaguers at the DREAM Series has a concerted impact that cannot be ignored. The living, breathing examples of reaching the pinnacle of the sport are standing just a few feet away. They’re the players that you’ve played with on MLB the Show, and they look like you, relate to the experiences that you’ve had in your baseball journey.
It’s a reciprocal relationship, as well. With every second that they lead these high schoolers through the fundamental intricacies of double-play turns, show them how to reach a solid balance point in their pitching motion, or impart advice on how to navigate the recruiting process as a high schooler, they recognize the beauty of a brigade of Black former Major Leaguers leading the way for the next wave.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” Grissom said. “I played with, and against, a lot of these guys, and to see them want to give back to their community help these kids’ development to become better people and players -- it speaks volumes. And how we can contribute to help change that percentage number, and get it higher.”
They know firsthand how difficult it is to reach the Majors. It’s statistically improbable for each DREAM Series participant to become one of the names on a 26-man roster. For the likes of Kendrick, Grissom, Hawkins and all the other instructors in attendance, it’s just as much about helping these players become the best people that they can be off the field.
“Everybody understands why we’re here,” Hawkins said. “We’re here for the kids. We’re here to give them what we didn’t have. What we’re giving them will help them not make the mistakes we made.”