CHICAGO -- Being at Rate Field is nothing out of the ordinary for Micah Johnson, who was the 2015 White Sox Opening Day second baseman and played 20 games on Chicago’s South Side.
But his appearance Tuesday, as part of the Jackie Robinson Day celebration prior to a series-opening 12-3 White Sox loss to the Athletics was a different feel for the 34-year-old than any of his hits accrued or defensive plays made on the field. Different career, as a renowned multi-discipline artist, and different purpose in recognizing this Hall of Fame trailblazer and other trailblazers like Robinson.
“It’s a blessing to bring it all full circle, and you really start to realize when you are out of the game, how much the people before you kind of paved the way for you to have a career,” Johnson told MLB.com. “Not just a career in the game, but outside the game as well.
“To have that platform of saying you were a Major League Baseball player goes a long way, but that’s not going to happen without Jackie Robinson. I’m trying to play my part and hopefully, can spark some inspiration in the kids.”
Johnson was leading a creative session with a group of ACE players in the second inning of Tuesday’s contest against the Athletics, talking through topics such as what Jackie Robinson Day means to the kids and the meaning of Juneteenth. They ultimately were going to express those ideas in art form.
That inspiration will be taken by Johnson to create patches and shirts for the players to wear at their tournaments over the Juneteenth holiday weekend. This White Sox initiative is in its second year involving Johnson, who was quite pleased with Tuesday’s interaction.
“I’m actually coming with something really special for the kids,” Johnson said. “We made our own Jackie Robinson shirts for the ACE kids. They will be able to create on that as well. It’s a really cool hand crafted piece for the shirt they will be able to draw and design.
“So, it’s actually kind of surreal. We are going to be creating art in the stadium while the game is going on. Talking about blending of both worlds. Art is a very vulnerable experience, sharing your art, I don’t care what level you are at. I personally believe art creates confidence in people in a way unlike any other, and so it’s really cool to see their confidence start to build throughout the session.”
The White Sox also invited local youth to create original artworks celebrating former Negro League greats and Black baseball pioneers. All participants received tickets to the game, and three grand-prize winners earned a VIP suite experience and were recognized during a special pregame ceremony.
ACE student-athletes took the field alongside the White Sox starting lineup and joined in the “Play Ball” announcement to start the game. Participants from ACE, the top-notch White Sox youth baseball program “working to reverse declining interest and participation in baseball among Black youth,” according to the organization, traveled to Birmingham, Ala., a couple of weekends ago, visiting the Civil Rights Institute and playing two games at historic Rickwood Field as part of the activities.
“We had a tour guide who was unbelievable,” said Jerry Houston, an ACE coach whose three sons have gone through the program. “The tour he gave was so overwhelming as far as just the details and how he talked about things that happened back in those times. It was just mind blowing. It was unbelievable.
“He had the kids from the time he started the tour all the way to the end, and that’s not something that usually happens with these guys. You can’t keep their attention that long. He had their attention the whole time.”
Baseball and art have intersected for Johnson, who plans to visit Triple-A Charlotte in a few weeks to stay close to the game. It’s the White Sox focus beyond the field affording these important opportunities.
“Their on-field product is going to get there, but at the same time, it’s not an organization that’s going to sit back and lean on baseball,” Johnson said. “They are in the community, they are doing a lot of good stuff. That kind of gets lost. They are a cultural kind of cornerstone in Chicago.”
“Love it, and it's awesome to see it in action, to see the people who are contributing to the program and see the people coming out of the program,” said White Sox manager Will Venable, who donated books about Robinson’s legacy, written by Sharon Robinson, to each classroom at Minnie Miñoso Academy, when asked about ACE. “They're our teammates in the organization. Very cool to see kind of the full circle of that program.”