• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Saturday, September 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Youth in North Mpls celebrate baseball and Jackie Robinson 

by Charles Hallman
July 13, 2016
29
SHARES
581
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
John Bryant and his team
John Bryant and his team (Charles Hallman/MSR News)

On the first day of the annual three-day Major League Baseball All-Star break, six 10-and-under baseball teams honored the late Jackie Robinson, and all players wore his number 42 at North Commons Park in North Minneapolis Monday evening. The number is permanently retired except for one day each season when every MLB player wears the legendary number on their uniforms.

“The significance of today is a lot of kids want to know who Jackie Robinson was,” explained Jerry Gambles Boys and Girls Club Head 10U Baseball Coach John Bryant. “I was giving them feedback that he was a great leader on the baseball field — a mentor —and he wanted everybody to play together, to play the game of baseball.”

While no one was ignoring the tragic shootings that occurred in the area the previous week, this night was dedicated to kids having fun. “Everybody is enjoying each other,” reports Bonita Benton, whose 11-year- old son Derrion Benton is a member of the Hospitality House team.

Mon night baseball on N. Mpls. Both teams wearing #42 for Jackie Robinson pic.twitter.com/kPJROrwqmr

- ADVERTISEMENT -

— Charles Hallman (@chjournalist) July 11, 2016

“They [the kids] want to come and have fun. We want to give them a place of safety where they can be at peace,” said Mike Talley.

Mike Talley and Bonita Benton
Mike Talley and Bonita Benton (Charles Hallman/MSR News)

“Today [there] was a positive atmosphere. We had all three fields and teams from Bottineau, Folwell, Jerry Gamble, North Commons, Hospitality House and Windom. It’s good to have the kids wearing T-shirts and Twins baseball caps” said Bryant.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Talley told the MSR that in lieu of playoffs, Monday’s six-team affair served as a wrap-up for the season. The evening’s only downer was the postponing of showing the movie 42 outside at dusk due to the uncertain weather. It has been rescheduled outside at North Commons Park at dusk July 29, said Talley.

Nonetheless, a diverse range of families from different ethnicities came to watch their kids play baseball in the remaining hour or two before dark “in North Minneapolis, and there aren’t any problems,” added Talley. “This is what needs to be told,” he poined out. “These are the good things that can happen with our kids. Most people think that don’t happen around here.”

Kent Brevik, a Minneapolis Park Board playground specialist, told the MSR that the event also has been used in past summers to highlight Twins and other MLB Black players. “We’ve picked eight of the Twins most famous Black and Latin players: Carew, Oliva and Puckett,” he recalled.

This summer it’s Robinson (1919-1972) whose 1947 Major League debut finally smashed the decades-old color barrier that denyed Blacks the chance to play in the majors. Major League Baseball began Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 in 2004. On that day, all his players wear his number to honor the man’s memory and legacy.

northside bb 2 (1)
(Charles Hallman/MSR News)

Frank White, the Minnesota Twins RBI director, quizzed the kids beforehand, and asked why everybody is wearing the same number: “Two of the kids [said] ‘because it’s Jackie Robinson’s number.’ So I said, ‘Who he played for?’ and they said, ‘The Dodgers.’” White praised the coaches’ role in teaching their players about Robinson.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“To have this many kids out playing that might know about Jackie Robinson in this setting at North Commons where people think Black kids don’t play baseball,” said White. “It’s good to see kids playing at this age. Some of these kids will continue into high school. Who knows, [maybe there’s] another Dave Winfield or another Jackie Robinson here? Hopefully they will stick with it.”

“It’s a great day to be out here,” declared Bryant. “It gives kids in the inner city the opportunity to play [baseball].”

Added White, “Playing baseball in the heart of North Minneapolis — White kids and Black kids playing together. I think that’s very positive. Hopefully that will stimulate further relations as the kids grow up.”

 

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

VIDEO| President Obama aims to unite a divided nation at Dallas memorial

Next Post

Black Bike Week Rolls through the Twin Cities July 10-­17

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Blacks still losing ground in Major League Baseball
Slider

Blacks still losing ground in Major League Baseball

Blacks scarce at annual Jackie Robinson Day game
Sports

Blacks scarce at annual Jackie Robinson Day game

NEON launches new business incubator
Slider

NEON launches new business incubator

NBA pro comes home to help rebuild North Mpls
Local

NBA pro comes home to help rebuild North Mpls

Northsiders encouraged to police their own community
Local

Northsiders encouraged to police their own community

Health concerns follow report of poor air quality in North Minneapolis
Go Green

Health concerns follow report of poor air quality in North Minneapolis

Next Post
Black Bike Week Rolls through the Twin Cities July 10-­17

Black Bike Week Rolls through the Twin Cities July 10-­17

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 22
September 22 @ 5:00 pm-September 23 @ 8:30 pm

9th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Sep 23
10:00 am-1:00 pm

Expanding Diversity Career Fair

Sep 23
7:30 pm-9:00 pm Recurring

Michhil Amra | We Are The Procession

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: