“I was all-state in four sports in New Jersey, but sometimes I couldn't get served at a restaurant two blocks from my high school. There were no job opportunities then... the only thing a black youth could aspire to be was a bellboy or a pullman or an elevator operator, or, maybe, a teacher. There was a time when all we had was black baseball.” TwoSometimesStatesSchoolJobsOpportunitySportsBlackTeacherFourYouthHigh SchoolBaseballBlockRestaurantsAspireJerseyNew JerseyElevatorsOperatorsAll StateJob OpportunitiesBlack Youth Author:Monte Irvin
“Both of my parents are actually music teachers. I think I got to a certain age where I decided I'd rather be a baseball player than a musician. Now, like most kids, I regret it.” ThinkingKidsAgeCertainParentTeacherPlayerRegretMusicianDecidedBaseballI RegretBaseball PlayerMusic Teacher Author:Charlie Day
“That's why I've gotten so much experience at my age. You have three teachers next to you every game, and if I'm not playing, I'm watching baseball. You pick up little things here and there.” IfsLittlesAgeThreeNextGamesTeacherPicksBaseballLittle ThingsHere And There Author:Adrian Gonzalez