MADISON, Wis. — The MLB has the lowest percentage of Black baseball players in three decades.
In 2022, Corey Marionneaux, the founder and CEO of Black Men Coalition (BMC) Youth Baseball, recognized this need and started trying to make a difference.
“I believe part of it is because our youth aren’t getting the opportunity to play the sport,” said Marionneaux.
A huge barrier for many families is the cost of getting their children involved with organized sports like baseball. Most leagues charge a registration fee, requiring your child to have their own gloves, hat, helmet, bat, cleats and other accessories, which could end up costing hundreds of dollars.
The BMC Youth Baseball league covers the cost of registration and provides equipment and uniforms, making the sport completely free for kids.
It is now in its second season and already has 350 men and women players involved.
“Black kids, white kids, Hispanic kids, they are all here and we should have more of that in our community,” said Marionneaux.
Marionneaux said his dream is for these kids to stick with baseball and go on to play in college and even the Major League, but beyond that, he said he’s happy to teach Dane County’s youth what it means to be a part of a team.
“Sports teach you how to work with different people and learn different personalities and understand people that come from different backgrounds,” said Marionneaux. “You have to be a part of a team to be successful, you have to learn to work well with others.”
The league runs completely off of donations and volunteers. Marionneaux said they even have to pay to rent out Elver Park from the City of Madison.
He said he hopes that in the future, with the community’s help, his kids will have their own field to play on.
“We are just looking to the point where we have our own baseball diamonds and our own indoor area, so in the winter time they can enjoy baseball as well,” said Marionneaux.
