Players Alliance honors Black legends in Atlanta

ATLANTA -- Braves legends, stars and a few celebrities gathered under Twelve Midtown, Autograph Collection, Atlanta’s lavish nightscape on Sunday, July 13.

The scene: The Players Alliance Game Changers Celebration, a commemoration of the city’s movers and shakers -- Black greats both past and present who left indelible marks on baseball history.

Founded in 2020 by a host of current and former Black ballplayers -- including board chair Curtis Granderson and vice board chair CC Sabathia -- the Players Alliance is a nonprofit organization that exists to “address baseball’s systemic barriers to equity and inclusion” for young Black talent (per the org’s website). It’s done so through funding, mentorship, scholarships and special events, and has contributed over $40 million to Black communities in efforts to level the playing field of baseball’s accessibility.

This event, though, was about the celebration of achievement, and it had folks breaking out their Sunday bests.

The ceremony’s honorees were divided into three eras. The first was the “Hank Aaron Era”, which consisted of two-time All-Star Dusty Baker and career .306 hitter Ralph Garr, both of whom were Aaron’s teammates from 1968-74. Baker went on to become one of the most celebrated managers in league history, with 2,183 wins (seventh all-time; most of any African American) and a World Series title in 2022 (he also won one in 1981 as a player).

“This brings people together,” Baker, who wore a sleek plaid jacket, told comedian Roy Wood Jr. at the banquet. “It brings people from all over the country, all over the world. Guys can break bread and fellowship.”

“Atlanta’s where I played at, and Dusty too,” Garr said. “So it’s just a blessing for [the Players Alliance] to show all the [love]. It’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of all the things they’re doing with the Braves.”

Both Garr and Baker voiced their deep fondness for the player and the man that Aaron was.

“I don’t consider myself a gamechanger, I look at Hank Aaron and the predecessors before me [as gamechangers],” Baker said.

Aaron received a heartfelt tribute at the 95th Midsummer Classic that will live for years in baseball lore. Two days earlier, he received another special recognition, this time with a tribute in the intimate sphere of many who were close to him.

“Hank Aaron taught me how to tie a tie,” Aaron’s former roommate Cito Gaston said. Gaston won a pair of World Series rings as Toronto’s manager in the 1990s. “But Hank Aaron, when he became farm director for the Atlanta Braves, he called me three times to work with him -- not for him -- but work with him. The third time, I said yes. And I would not be standing here right now if he weren’t so consistent in calling me and getting me to come and work with him. So I owe him everything.”

The next era was dubbed “90s Powerhouse and Beyond”, and it focused on players who comprised some of the Braves squads that won 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005. Atlanta collected five National League pennants and a World Series title in ‘95 during the span.

The players in this group were: Andruw Jones, Otis Nixon, Fred McGriff, Ron Gant, Terry Pendleton, Marvin Freeman, David Justice, Marvin Freeman, Brian Jordan and Marquis Grissom.

Jones, Gant, Grissom, Justice and McGriff were multi-time All-Stars, while the latter is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Justice and Grissom were part of the ‘95 World Series team (Grissom hauled in the last out of the final game), while Jordan and Pendleton have an All-Star apiece.

“It means a lot,” Jordan, who managed the NL team against Justice in the HBCU Swingman Classic, said. “One, to see my old friends and teammates, and guys I played against. And the Players Alliance has done a great job of giving back in the communities. … All these guys who are receiving awards, it’s just not about baseball. It’s about giving back to the community and seeing change.”

The last era -- which recognized current talent -- was reserved for one man: “Money Mike," Michael Harris II, 2022’s National League Rookie of the Year.

The event saw several notable attendees, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, DC Young Fly, Lou Young, Q Parker of 112 fame, Keke Wyatt and Jacob Lattimore. Also in attendance were Granderson, Sabathia, Edwin Jackson, Mike Cameron, Dee Gordon and Sean Gibson, great-grandson of Josh Gibson.

“It’s a great night,” Gibson said. “To have an All-Star game here in Atlanta, the mecca of African-Americans. [We] had a great HBCU game on Friday, and here celebrating the Players Alliance with a lot of great alumni players from the Atlanta area, [it’s great].

“I think the most important thing is that we just want to spread that word, and make sure we get these young kids out here playing the game of baseball. … What a great way to spread that love here in Atlanta, and get some of these young people in the game of baseball.”