The first event at Citizens Bank Park for All-Star Weekend was held on Friday night as almost 17,000 people filled into the ballpark for the fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic.
Created by MLB Hall of Fame player Ken Griffey Jr., the game featured former Phillies World Series champion Jimmy Rollins as the manager of the National League team. Rickie Weeks, who spent 14 seasons in MLB and had a legendary college career at Southern University, a Baton Rouge, La. based historically Black university, was the manager of the American League.
The American League rode a three-run first inning to open the game to secure a 6-1 win.
And Philadelphia local Santino Harwood helped them get there. Harwood, was one of 50 players across 19 historically Black colleges and universities selected to participate in the game. He entered in the top of the fourth inning for the American League, playing shortstop through the last out.
Harwood recently finished his sophomore year at Delaware State with a .296 batting average, third-best on the team. The Roman Catholic graduate had two at-bats, hitting a single through the five-six gap in his first plate appearance, and forcing a walk in his second.
Jacoby Radcliffe, a senior from Southern who scored the first run of the game, was named the game’s MVP.
“I feel like I took it all in because I don’t know when my last game is going to be, and to be playing in such a prestigious ballpark like this, it was just phenomenal,” Radcliffe said.
Created with the intention of giving players from HBCUs more exposure and opportunities, the Swingman Classic highlights the achievements of young Black players in baseball, while also setting an example. With the current number of Black players in the MLB decreasing, Weeks said getting more Black children involved in playing baseball again starts at home with parents.
“I think in the next five to 10 years, it should be spiking a little more because I think the parents in the household are watching more baseball because of the Black players,” Weeks said.
And while the main event was happening on the diamond, there was no shortage of entertainment surrounding the game while also honoring traditions and the people that impact HBCUs.
Roger Cador, Southern’s former legendary baseball coach and a 2022 inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, was honored with a video ahead of the third inning. Before the fifth inning, former Phillies pitcher Al Holland was honored with his own video tribute. Both Cador and Holland recently passed away.
The nine historically Black sororities and fraternities, known as the Divine Nine, performed on top of the dugouts in between frames. Flyers arena host DJ Hollywood was also a part of the festivities playing music between innings.
Philadelphia’s official drum line, the West Powelton Steppers, which also performs at Phillies games as the Phillies Bass Line, had several performances before and during the game as well.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while two-time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Eric Roberson performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Grammy award-winning vocalist Durand Bernarr sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Comedian Roy Wood Jr. was the ballpark emcee for the event.
Despite the bigger stage and fanfare that surrounded the Swingman Classic, Rollins said the game had the same feelings of joy and camaraderie that accompanied playing baseball as a child.
“I came out the dugout and I’m seeing the ball go around a diamond, guys running bases, ball coming off the bat. I’m like, ah, this [is] real baseball,” Rollins said. “And not that it’s never not, [but] it’s just to see the movements, the actions, the style on the field. It reminded me when I was a kid running out there and trying to put on a show.”
Leave a Reply