HBCU SWINGMAN CLASSIC LEADS OFF ALL-STAR WEEK IN PHILADELPHIA

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

Friday night, the fourth HBCU Swingman Classic kicked off All-Star week at Citizens Bank Park. Founded by Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., the event showcases 50 players who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The teams were managed by Phillies’

JIMMY ROLLINS

great Jimmy Rollins, who helmed the National League squad, while Rickie Weeks - who starred at Southern University, an HBCU, before a 14-year Major League career – was in charge in the American League dugout.

“I have friends who went to HBCU’s,” Griffey said, “and they tell me how awesome it is, and they’re proud of me, but it’s not about me; it’s about the kids. Giving them the opportunity to play in a Major League stadium and get recognized for what they did earlier in the year.”

The MLB Draft is also this weekend, and ten of the 150 Swingman Classic alumni have been drafted. Part of Griffey’s motivation is to give the players exposure but also to expose them to people like his Father and Andre Dawson, who were in attendance.

“I bring Andre out because they need to see a guy who is a Hall of Famer that played at an HBCU. It’s important that they see that if they can get there, anything can happen. Whether they make it in the big leagues or not, they can still work in baseball and be around the game they love.”

KEN GRIFFEY JR.

Realizing that this might be the only time many of them will ever play in a big-league ballpark, Rollins had a message for the players.

“Take this all in,” he said. "Look up in the sky, look in the stands, look at all the seats. When you were a kid, this was where you wanted to be; now you’re here. Most importantly, have some fun and leave it all on the field.”

As for the game itself, the American League won 6-1 in front of 16,637 fans who were entertained between innings by sorority and fraternity members dancing on the dugouts. American League center fielder Jacoby Radcliff, a senior from Southern, was the game’s MVP. He set the tone in the first inning when he led the game off by getting hit by a pitch, then he stole second and third base on successive pitches before scoring when the throw to third by catcher Trey Callaway got away. The American League stole seven bases in the game while their pitchers scattered

GAME MVP JACOBY RADCLIFF

three hits, allowed a walk and hit a batter.

Putting men on was a problem for the National League; their pitchers gave up seven hits, walked four and hit two. Of the six batters who reached without a base hit, five of them scored.

“I feel like I took it all in,” Radcliff said. “I don’t know when my last game is going to be, and to be playing in a prestigious ballpark like this is phenomenal.”

The Philadelphia area was represented on the American League team by shortstop Santino Harwood, who goes to Delaware State and is a Roman Catholic High School graduate. He got a hit and a walk in two plate appearances and caught the ceremonial first pitch from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. For the National League, Solomon McKinney, from Lincoln University in Chester County, pitched the seventh inning. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out a batter.

“I get to play in front of my home city,” said Harwood prior to the game. “I’m excited.”

PHILADELPHIA NATIVE SANTINO HARWOOD WITH FORMER PHILLIE MILT THOMPSON

NOTES – During the game, there were video tributes to a pair of HBCU baseball legends who recently passed away. Roger Cador was the Southern University coach for 33 years, winning 913 games. His teams won14 SWAC Championships, made 11 NCAA Regional appearances, and earned a pair of HBCU national championships. Weeks and 61 other players he coached were drafted. Cador, who died June 30 at the age of 74, was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. The teams wore a patch on their uniforms honoring Cador. Also honored was former Phillies’ pitcher Al Holland, who passed away at 73-years old on July 4^th. He pitched in the big leagues for 10 seasons and starred for the pennant-winning 1983 Phillies when he saved 25 games and was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year. The following year, he was an All-Star while saving 29 games. He attended North Carolina A&T University, where he is just one of three athletes to have their number retired. The Aggies retired Holland’s No. 17 in 2020. He went into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.