The Black Baseball Mixtape

Happy Holidays BBM Family!

On this episode of Mixtape Talk, Cheats is joined by Tyrone Brooks of the MLB Diversity Pipeline Program. Tyrone's principle job is to help diversify the game at the front office level. Tyrone has amassed a stellar executive career with the Braves, Guardians, and Pirates.

In 2016, he was hired in his current role with MLB and, since then, has helped hundreds of women and people of color enter careers in baseball.

For many years, Tyrone has been passionate about helping people enter the game. He started the Baseball Industry Network, which and now grown to very 40K members (on LinkedIn).

In our conversation, we talk about the challenges of his job. The perception versus reality of diversity in baseball and that MLB is doing to make people aware of career opportunities within the game.

Tyrone has a love of baseball that started when he was five years old, and his passion continues today. His job is challenging and demanding. The travel is immense. Yet, he loves the opportunity it creates for the next generation. He is a true leader and trailblazer.

Please follow Tyrone Brooks at @TBrooksBIN on Twitter and @TyBrooks412 on IG.

Please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast everywhere Podcasts are available.

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@BlackBaseballMixtape

What's up, Family!

We have a special episode for you: a first in BBM history. Samad Taylor is the #25 prospect in the Royals system. He was recently named on the Royals' 40-man roster, making him the first-ever MLB player to do a Mixtape Talk. (That's right, we're on the rise).

I could not have a better first MLB player than Samad. This man has been through so much, from being drafted at 17 to maturing as a man and a player, to sitting out a COVID year, and now being named to the 40-man. His early journey is remarkable.

On this episode, Samad talks about the challenges of being drafted so young and how he's navigated pro baseball. He talks about being a Black player in a sport where there are not a lot of Black players at the pro level. And he talks about what can be done to get young Black kids excited about the game. We have a lot of fun with this conversation. Samad is a genuine leader.

Please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape Podcast everywhere podcasts are available.

You can follow BBM on Twitter at @BBallMixtape and @BlackBaseballMixtape on IG. And follow Samad at lil.bill5 on IG.

Thank you for your support. The Black Baseball Mixtape is on its way to 1K IG followers.

On this episode of Mixtape Talk, Cheats is joined by Mike Sanders of Roc Nation Sports.

Mike is a former University of Miami baller who transitioned to player advocacy and representation after his playing days ended.

Mike’s success is rooted in presenting his authentic self in every situation. Being true to who he is has allowed him to connect, understand and mentor young athletes as they start their journey in professional sports.

He has worked with some of baseball’s most captivating stars through Roc Nation: players like Jazz Chisholm (1st team all-BBM swag) and newly signed Marcus Stroman. He also has some of the game’s brightest up-and-coming prospects under the Roc umbrella: 2022 #4 overall pick Temarr Johnson and 2020 2nd round pick Masyn Winn.

Mike mixes hip-hop culture with baseball in a contemporary but forward-looking way. People like Mike in the game will help make baseball more accessible for future generations of Black baseball players.

Check out the conversation. You don’t want to miss it.

Please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on all social media and podcast platforms. And visit the blog at blackbaseballmixtape.com.

On this episode of Mixtape Talk, Cheats speaks with Jay Caldwell and Graig Kreindler, the creators of the new book, “Black Baseball in Living Color.” The 250-page book features nearly 240 of Graig’s color portraits he created while working with Jay on a centennial project for the Negro League Baseball Museum.

The book explores the players and events that shaped Black baseball from the nineteenth century through the twenty-first century, presenting a look at Black baseball that you’ve never seen before. The book dedicates five of its twelve chapters to seminal figures Negro Leagues history: Rube Foster, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Jackie Robinson. Jay and four other SABR authors wrote those chapters. Some other chapters highlight other important aspects of Black baseball, like the Latin Winter Leagues, the dead ball era, and the years after Jackie’s integration.

During the conversation, Jay and Graig discuss the book’s origins and how their work has captivated a vast audience. You don’t want to miss this light and fun conversation.

Black Baseball in Living color can be pre-ordered right now at Baseballartll.com. The books will be shipped in December.

Please follow Graig Kreindler everywhere on social media  @Graig Kreindler  And, of course, follow the Black Baseball Mixtape at @BBallMixtape.

Patrick Ellington has become one of my favorite baseball writers this season. His bylines appeared on MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, SABR, and Baseball America. He also has a fantastic Medium blog that profiles Black baseball players in MLB and MiLB.

Patrick and I discuss Dusty Baker's championship, Black prospects, and the current state of Black baseball.

Please follow Patrick on Twitter at @Tangilble_Uno

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Stay tuned for more Mixtape talks coming very soon.

On this edition of Mixtape Talk, Cheats visits with three-time Emmy award-winning director Randy Wilkins. Randy directed the seven-part ESPN miniseries The Captain, about the life and career of Yankees Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter.

Randy is a fascinating person. A former baseball player himself from the Bronx. Had it not been for an injury, he might have been on the field instead of behind the camera.

During the interview, Randy and Cheats discuss his love for the game, his Yankee fandom, and, of course, Derek Jeter. This is an interview you don’t want to miss.

Please follow and subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on all social media. And please retweet and reshare this interview. Twitter: BBallMixtape IG: BlackBaseballMixtape

Coach Ethan Pollock is heading into his 19th season at Presbyterian College.

He is the longest-tenured Black Head Coach in D1 baseball. On this episode of Mixtape Talk, I chat with Coach Pollock about his unusual journey into coaching. His passion for the game. And, what can be done to increase Black coaches in the college ranks.

There are only five Black head coaches in D1 baseball outside of HBCUs (13 total). This interview completes all five. The Black Baseball Mixtape is honored to present these talks. Please watch all of them.

Please subscribe to this podcast and follow the Mixtape on Twitter and IG.

On this episode of Mixtape Talk, Cheats chats with newly-minted Marist Head Coach Lance Ratchford. Coach Ratchford is returning to Poughkeepsie, NY, to lead a baseball program he once served as an assistant coach from 2016-2018. During that time, he helped guide the Red Foxes to the 2017 MAAC Championship and a trip to the NCAA Regional.

Coach Ratchford discusses a wide range of topics, including the process of being offered and accepting the head coaching job, his journey to becoming one of the youngest coachings in all of D1 baseball, his approach to completing his coaching staff, recruiting new players, and maintaining a solid roster of returning players.

He also dives into the growing number of Black coaching in Division I collegiate baseball and what actions can be taken to improve diversity within the coaching ranks.

This is another Mixtape Talk that you don’t want to miss.

Please follow the Black Baseball Mixtape on IG and Twitter.

On this special edition of Mixtape Talk, Cheats is joined by award-winning author and journalist Howard Bryant about his latest book, Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original.

The book is fascinating as Howard digs deep into topics like the great migration of Black from the American South to the west coast. He talks about the explosion of money in baseball during the late 70s and 80s; and the treatment of Black players, such as Rickey, by white owners, such as George Steinbrenner. Howard writes about it all. And by doing so, he paints a picture of one of the most dynamic, misunderstood, and legendary players the game has ever seen: Rickey Henderson.

Buckle up…Mixtape Talk 007 featuring Howard Bryant is a doozy.

As always, please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on social media.

Reach out to me on Twitter and IG.

Thank you for your fantastic support.

On this special edition of Mixtape Talk, I speak with Memphis University Head Coach Kerrick Jackson.

Coach Jackson is one of the most respected coaches in the fraternity of Black skippers. He has coached at every collegiate level and spent time away from coaching, serving as an MLB scout, baseball agent (with the Boras Corporation), and the President of the MLB Draft League.

In 2017, he led Southern University from 9 wins (2018) to the SWAC Championship and a birth in the NCAA tournament in 2019. In June 2022, at the time of his hire, Jackson became the 3rd Black coach selected to lead a PWI DI program and the first Black coach ever to lead the Memphis Tigers. As he says in the conversation, his selection was not only the right hire based on merit but also a statement appointment for the University and the community of Memphis. This conversation is insightful and fun.

Please follow Memphis Baseball and the Black Baseball Mixtape.