ARLINGTON, Texas – Friday night’s HBCU Swingman Classic Baseball All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile at Globe Life Field was a bit like extending the historic Juneteenth national holiday from June to July in the state where the observance originated.
In fact, Dr. Opal Lee, who led the charge to have Juneteenth (the celebration of the freeing of all slaves in Texas officially on June 19, 1865, as Civil War news traveled slowly after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation), was at the stadium to declare “Play Ball” to get the festivities started, and things only became more lively after that as 50 NCAA Division I HBCU all-stars displayed their talents prior to Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game at this locale.
From the time of Dr. Lee’s resounding shout to start the game, the 16,467 fans on hand were treated to some of the top individual performances in all college baseball (not just HBCU) and a 5-4 win by manager Lloyd McClendon’s American All-Stars over the National squad managed by Ken Griffey Sr.
Both baseball chiefs were impressed by the quality of play and class of college standouts along with a combined 23 strikeouts and just four walks issued by 13 pitchers used in the postseason classic leading up to the MLB All-Star Game Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
And in a bit of statistical anomaly, Martinez and Martinez figured in both ends of the winning pitching decision. Righty Jafet Martinez of Alabama State was the beneficiary of a three-run rally during his one-inning stint when the Americans edged ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning before Mason Martrinez of Grambling ended a potential, two-out rally by the Nationals in the top of the ninth for the save. Daniel Gaviara of Bethune-Cookman surrendered those go-ahead runs and was tagged with the loss.
Even Had the Grandmother of Juneteenth Dr. Opal Lee at the Festivities
After the contest, though, both managers expressed satisfaction that Black collegiate baseball is continuing to make strides and MLB scouts and fans were treated to the best sides of their performances.
“The last two years have been tremendous and well played,” McClendon started, “and these young men had a lot of questions for me and those associated with the game. These kids are bright and can play the game and will have a tremendous impact on college and pro baseball down the road.
“When I broke into pro baseball (1980 after starring at Valparaiso collegiately),” he added, “the number of Black players in the majors was 35 percent. Now it is about 7-8 percent. We need to raise that, and it does my heart good to be around this many fine Black college players.”
Griffey Sr., whose Baseball Hall of Fame son Ken Griffey Jr. has played a major role in organizing the HBCU Swingman Classic, reflected the same thoughts.
“It is so important how we evaluate talent today,” Griffey Sr. stated. “Tonight was really a good show of that talent. I see this as an opportunity to pay it forward to these deserving young players. They were good, and they would not have been here if they weren’t good.”
The game, which featured performances by fraternity and sorority exemplary dance groups and the Texas Southern marching band (Prairie View A&M’s band was invited but unable to attend because of Hurricane Beryl damage and flooding near its campus north of Houston) and simply fans in the stands enjoying the music and atmosphere, indeed was a showcase of the best and brightest stars of HBCU baseball with some interesting sidebars as well.
North Carolina A&T first baseman Tatsunori Negishi of Tokyo, Japan, won the long distance award to show his skills while Alabama A&M junior OF Brycen Hammonds came from his hometown and site of the AA Southern League Rocket City Trash Pandas in the Huntsville, Ala., suburb of Madison and belted a double in his two trips to the plate.
Nationals leadoff hitter Randy Floes of Alabama State was a one-man wrecking crew for the losing squad with a 3-for-4 night, first run scored in the contest and three stolen bases.
Americans stalwart and game MVP Tiger Borom of Grambling played the last game of his college career and blistered a decisive two-run single, which ended up being the winning team’s difference in that fateful fifth, scored a run and made several skirmish-saving defensive plays in the process.
Nationals first baseman Dreylin Holmes, the only star selected from football-famous Mississippi Valley State (the alma mater of Jerry Rice and Willie Totten, among others) on either roster, belted a pair of singles in a reserve role and drove in the fourth run of the contest in the top of the ninth before Mason Martinez slammed the door on a two-out fielder’s choice.
Versatile catcher-shortstop Jamal George of Alabama State added a pair of hits and scored another run in four trips for the Americans.
“We plan to come back next year and go 3-0 against Griffey,” laughed McClendon as a postgame news conference ended.
Game Notes: Public address announcer Marque Denmon of the Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason tourney, the Black College Baseball World Series (played specifically for NCAA Division II and NAIA HBCU teams and moving to Jackson, Tenn., in 2025) as well as all levels of Southern college and professional baseball, entertained fans throughout with his snappy tones…Pregame legend tapes and highlights included the likes of the first HBCU star (and 15-year MLB performer) Rickie Weeks of Southern U. and his ABCA and College Baseball Hall of Fame head coach Roger Cador of Southern receiving the prestigious 2003 Dick Howser Trophy presented by The Game Headwear (the first standout from a HBCU member to capture that national honor), Ralph Garr and Tommie Agee of Grambling, National Baseball Hall of Fame member and Americans bench coach Andre Dawson and Nationals first base coach Vince Coleman of Florida A&M as well as Black baseball trendsetter Monte Irvin of Lincoln (Pa.), and Lou Brock of Southern U., among others…Several schools from the 2021-24 Black College Baseball World Series also featured admissions’ exhibits at the MLB All-Star Fair at Choctaw Stadium adjacent to Globe Life Field – Savannah State, Wiley, Talladega College, Tuskegee, and Tougaloo, among others…MVP Borom told one reporter after the contest that bringing in NCAA Division II-III and NAIA members might be a good idea for future Swingman Classics. “We would love to be playing with those guys,” he said. “It’s all a great place for players to be scouted from all levels, and this has been two of the best days I have ever enjoyed in college or my entire baseball career.”…The visiting Nationals sported turquoise tops very similar to Griffey Jr.’s great teams with the Seattle Mariners…Several draft-eligible members of both squads are hoping to hear their names called starting Sunday with the 60th annual MLB Free Agent Amateur Draft or to ink free agent contracts.
Bo Carter is the Executive Director of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and is a long time professional in sports media and information. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has plied his trade in the Southeastern Conference, the Southwest Conference, and the Big 12 Conference. He was named to the College Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame in July 2005. In addition to his NCBWA duties, he is a senior consultant to Black College Championships LLC, which runs the Black College World Series and a contributor to Black College Nines.