HANOVER, Md. -- More than three hours before their scheduled doubleheader with Norfolk State, a dozen members of the Coppin State baseball team were already on the field at Joe Cannon Stadium on Saturday morning.
They were coaching a group of about 50 Baltimore-area kids, aged 5 to 12, as part of Major League Baseball’s HBCU Play Ball Series, which supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities, while working to increase baseball participation in their communities.
“There’s going to be a lot of kids here that already play, but really we’re also focusing on kids that don’t play,” said David James, vice president of baseball and softball development for MLB. “So, after they play here and enjoy themselves, our goal is they go back home and they start playing in their backyard and that transitions into more formal play.”
James said the HCBU Play Ball series kicked off in 2020, but was interrupted by COVID-19. Events resumed this year and Saturday’s was the third, following ones in Alabama and South Carolina.
Following the session, the kids had the opportunity to watch the collegiate doubleheader and were given a ball and bat to go along with the Play Ball T-shirts they wore while during the clinic.
Coppin State baseball coach Sherman Reed said his team was honored to take part.
“When MLB reached out to us regarding this great initiative it was like a no-brainer,” Reed said. “It’s something that we look forward to doing. We have a roster of 31 kids from 15 states and four countries, so it’s an opportunity for them to give back to the youth of Baltimore, particularly to those kids who look up to them as their heroes.”
Reed’s only problem was choosing which Coppin State players would take part, since all of them wanted to volunteer.
“It’s hugely important,” Coppin State senior outfielder Matthew Day said of exposing kids to baseball at an early age. “I remember when I was a young kid and I would be going to baseball camps or Little League games and it sparked interest in baseball more than other sports. Hopefully that’s what we can do for some kids today.”
Despite a cold, windy morning and a soggy field, the enthusiastic group of youngsters and player-coaches spread out in the outfield where stations included hitting, fielding, baserunning, agility drills and more.
“Really important to have the student athletes participate in this so these kids that are coming out and playing today, they’re going to see [players] who look just like them and it’s a reality to them,” James said. “And they say, 'You know what? They played; I want to play now, too.'”
In addition to the Coppin State players, the kids also got tips from former Baltimore Oriole outfielder Al Bumbry. The 1973 American League Rookie of Year, Bumbry spent 13 of his 14 seasons with the Orioles, winning a World Series in 1983 and finishing with a career .281 batting average.
“The Orioles called and I said, ‘Sure I’ll be glad to come.’ Because kids want to be baseball players and they want to be better baseball players and any time I can offer advice to them, I’m happy to do that,” Bumbry said. “And kids tend to listen to this uniform, so to speak, they recognize the Oriole uniform and if the Orioles speak through me, then I think I can help them.”
Shaquica Miller brought her son, Christian, to the clinic.
“It’s awesome to see everybody that’s out here,” she said. “This is the next generation and just to see people taking their time out to help the young boys, because they need help, they need guidance. I’m just excited that my son can be a part of this event.”
Christian, meanwhile, gave the Coppin State "coaches" a glowing review.
“They’re amazing, they’re fun,” he said. “They’ll tell you what you’re doing wrong without being mean and they can get you to hit a home run on the first try.”