In this Coaching While Black feature, Los Angeles Angels Manager Ron Washington reflects on leadership, resilience, and the challenges Black MLB coaches face.
MLB
Posted inOdds and Ends
Twins Black hurlers warm up for the season
Alex Speas and Simeon Woods Richardson, both Black players on the Minnesota Twins, are working to make an impact on the team and to stick in the majors, with Speas aiming to join the “Black Aces” list and Woods Richardson aiming to improve his record.
Posted inTwins/MLB
MLB’s next big swing: The rise of the ‘torpedo bat’
The torpedo bat, designed by former Yankees analyst Aaron Leanhardt, is now catching fire across the MLB by redistributing weight closer to the handle, optimizing swing speed and power, and is already showing results with the Yankees smashing 15 home runs in their opening three games.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Watkins, Lewis survive the inevitable Twins bloodletting
Tommy Watkins remains the Twins’ third base coach despite the team’s late season swoon, while Simeon Woods Richardson was demoted to the minors after hitting a rookie wall.
Posted inSports
Black Twins players boosting team morale
Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins are highlighted in a MLBbro.com article for their contributions to the team.
Posted inSports
Negro Leagues honored at renovated Rickwood Field
Rising-Birmingham resident Jeffery has expressed disappointment in the lack of attention given to the neighborhood surrounding Rickwood Field.
Posted inSports
Negro Leagues finally embraced as part of MLB history
MLB will play tribute to the Negro Leagues with a regular season game between San Francisco and St. Louis at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Posted inNews
Willie Mays’ journey: From segregated South to presidential honors
Willie Mays, the greatest baseball player of the last 80 years, was a symbol of America’s racial history and a reminder of what the country can produce.
Posted inSports
Jackson finds pro niche as relief pitcher
Jay Jackson, a 6-1 pitcher with nearly 20 years of professional baseball experience, has traveled the world and played for several MLB teams.
Posted inSports
Black representation in MLB remains stubbornly low
MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day every April 15th, but only 6.2% of this year’s rosters on opening day were Black, with the Twins having three Blacks or 11.5% of its 2024 roster.
Posted inSports
Lewis takes injuries in stride with a positive attitude
Royce Lewis, the Minnesota Twins’ No. 1 overall pick in 2017, had a successful 2023 season.
Posted inSports
Mauer joins Winfield, Monitor and Morris in the Baseball Hall of Fame
Joe Mauer, a St. Paul native and 2009 American League MVP, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, becoming the fourth St. Paul HOF inductee.
Posted inSports, Twins/MLB
Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs
‘The younger guys picked up the older guys, and that’s why we are here celebrating with champagne.’
Posted inSports
Strawberry returns to Saints stadium
‘He’s going to end up being remembered more for what he did as a person than what he does as a player.’
Posted inFeatured, Sports
Baseball in Birmingham: Rickwood Field is living history
‘The Negro Leagues produced champions in more ways than one.’
Posted inSports, Twins/MLB
Twins new scoreboards
Over the last couple of years, the Twins have spent nearly $30 million on stadium improvements including what team officials christened “Scoreboard 2.0,” which replaced the old scoreboard with a brand new one.
Posted inSports
Saints pitcher says he’s right where he wants to be
Simeon Woods Richardson is the St. Paul Saints’ only Black pitcher, and one of two in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Posted inFeatured, Sports
How Blacks in baseball get pigeonholed
Minnesota Twins’ Chris Archer is among that paltry number of Black pitcher this season.
Posted inTwins/MLB
Twins game host does double duty
Joseph Sutton, Jr. is among a rare group in pro sports today. He is the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Wild in-game host—the only Black host working for both local pro teams.
Posted inSports
Many baseball minor leaguers don’t earn a living wage
Unless you make the majors, playing baseball isn’t the charmed life.