Richmond Flying Squirrels chosen to help lead ‘The Nine’
Fred Jeter | 3/3/2022, 6 p.m. | Updated on 3/22/2022, 12:18 p.m.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been named a team captain of “The Nine,” a new baseball outreach platform focused on the Black community.
Under the auspices of Minor League Baseball, or MILB, Richmond is one of five cities chosen to participate in the national project.
“The Nine” is designed to honor the contributions of African-American ballplayers, provide new opportunities for minority youths and diversify the business of baseball.
Why “The Nine?” It is in honor of jersey No. 9 that Jackie Robinson wore in 1946 as a member of the Montreal Royals, the AAA affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Robinson played one season of minor league baseball prior to breaking major league baseball’s color line in 1947.
Here are some specifics for “The Nine”:
• Create new opportunities for youth programs for Black children in communities that are lacking in baseball and softball leagues.
• Expand on Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), with emphasis on Pitch, Hit & Run contests and the Junior Home Run Derby.
• Become involved with young adults at historically black colleges and universities such as Virginia Union and Virginia State universities in providing internships and mentorships with the Flying Squirrels.
Overall, the program is designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.
