Preserving the legacy of Historically Black College and University baseball… it’s not just our motto, but also our goal and passion.
Black College Nines was founded in 2009, as a site dedicated to telling the historical story of HBCU baseball. Soon after going online with blackcollegenines.com, an opportunity arose and with overwhelming encouragement, we expanded our coverage. While still honoring HBCU baseball’s past, Black College Nines became the “go to” site for coverage of HBCU baseball’s current happenings.
Black College Nines proudly serves the college baseball community as the only website dedicated solely to black college baseball on all levels. From the season-long polls we run, to the student-athlete superlatives recognized at season’s end, school administrators, coaches and even past and present HBCU ballplayers express their gratitude for the importance of what we do.
Enjoy your visit!
– Jay Sokol, Black College Nines Founder
Black College Nines’ Staff:
Jay Sokol
Founder, Lead Historical Reporter, Webmaster
Jay Sokol is the founder of blackcollegenines.com, a website dedicated to preserving the legacy of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball. A longtime writer and researcher of the sport, Sokol is a member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Society for American Baseball Research, a founding member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association, chairperson of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, former director of baseball operations and recruiting for the Delaware (Ohio) Cows of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate (wooden bat) Baseball League, retired business owner and author of the book Black College Nines: The History of HBCU Baseball and Integrators of Historically White College Baseball Programs
Michael Coker
Lead Current/Comtemporary Reporter
Michael Coker is a collegiate baseball writer and lead contemporary news reporter for Black College Nines. He is a member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), a member of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, founding member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association (HBCU-PSMA), founder and Executive Director of the Black College Championships LLC and its HBCU baseball Black College World Series, and has twenty years of covering collegiate baseball. Coker played baseball for three years under coach Jeffery Lee Jr. at Edward Waters University. Will complete Masters of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Coker is also a political contributor, consultant and conservative blogger. Founder of Secondopinionpundits – Political Web Magazine.
Douglas Malan
Features Writer
Douglas Malan is a journalist and visual artist living in Connecticut. His works include short stories, poetry and books. Among the books Malan has authored is a history of Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn., which has hosted icons of the Negro Leagues, Major Leagues and NFL since 1913. Other books include a history of the Georgia-Yale football series from 1923-1934, and a children’s book titled Let’s Go to the Ballpark. He enjoys exploring the intersection of history, sports and sociology through his work with Black College Nines.
Harold Michael Harvey
Features Writer
Harold Michael Harvey is an American award-winning journalist, former lawyer, political pundit, novelist, essayist, publisher, and the author such books as Paper Puzzle, Justice in the Round, and The Duke of 18th and Vine. Harvey played collegiate baseball at both Ft. Valley State University and Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and is a member of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
John Winters, PhD.
Features Writer
John Winters earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Health, Leisure and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2010 and is currently an Associate Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Langston University in Oklahoma. Dr. Winters is a board member of the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame and a voting member of its Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee. A former NCAA baseball umpire, Winter worked within a number of Division One conferences including as an integrating umpire in the old Southwest Conference (SWC).