Baseball and Civil Rights: Durham's Long Ball All-Stars to Take on Philly's Best

Baseball is an unusual way to learn about civil rights, but when two youth baseball teams come together on Sunday, June 21, the event will be filled with history.

The game between Philadelphia's Anderson Monarchs and Durham's Long Ball League All-Stars will showcase young athletic talents, including the Monarch's female phenom Mo'ne Davis, one of the stars of last year's Little League World Series.

But in this case, baseball is a means by which to pay tribute to Jackie Robinson and other civil rights volunteers. The Monarchs are on a 23-day, 20-city barnstorm across America as a tribute to Jackie Robinson, The Negro Leagues and the civil rights movement.

For Patricia James, a staff specialist for Duke's Community Service Center, the chance for the Durham team to face off against Davis and the Monarchs is an opportunity for the team both to learn history and "be part of history." James is the founder of the Durham Long Ball League.

“We are the only North Carolina team and city that they are stopping at, and my kids are excited,” James said. "We have been Durham’s best kept secret for seven years. The publicity will help us and help people know who we are and get them to come out to our games.”

The game is another milestone in the growth of the Long Ball League, which James started in 2009 when Durham Parks and Recreation cancelled its free inner city league.  With the assistance of Major League Baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program, the league started with four teams for Durham youth, ages 13-18.

The league now has nine teams, which includes one girls softball team coached by Duke senior Rebecca Ponce De Leon. James said the league is still accepting players for girls softball in hopes of filling a second team. Sponsors include Duke Stores, the Duke Community Service Center, the Duke Office of Durham and Regional Affairs and the baseball programs at Duke and N.C. Central University.

James said the program is not only about baseball. She also sees it as a tool to help players excel in other areas of their life.

“We emphasize academics and personal growth,” said James. “We want them to get to know themselves and be all they can be.”

African-American participation in baseball has been on the decline, with reasons cited including the cost of the sport, the inability of cities to afford maintenance of baseball fields and urban programs and neglect from national baseball organizations, including Little League and Major League Baseball.

“It’s only less than 2 percent of blacks in baseball, and we need to get rid of the stereotype that they can only run bases, they actually can think and play the game,” said James.

She added that summer baseball leagues can help build inner-city community in Durham and elsewhere. “I like keeping the kids out of trouble and letting them play the game they love and don’t get the opportunity to play, because of the politics of baseball,” James said.

The success of Davis and the Philadelphia team in reaching the Little League World Series showed what inner-city teams could accomplish. James said playing against the Monarchs will show the Durham youths what their team will need to do to get better.

“This will help us gauge where our talent really is,” said James. “To play a team with seven members who played in the Little League World Series will help gauge what type of talent we really have since they only play against one another.”

Before they face off on the field, both teams will watch the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team play the Holly Springs Salamanders Saturday night in Cary. James said she is looking forward to the weekend.

“I’m excited to meet their team and their coaches,” said James. “Her coach, Steve Bandura, is awesome.”

The Long Ball league Red Wings team will play the Anderson Monarchs at 10 a.m., Sunday, June 21, at Southern Durham High School. Admission is $3.

Shakira Warren is a rising junior at NC Central University who is working this summer as an intern in Duke's Office of News and Communiation.