Major League Baseball is the only organization of North America’s four major men’s sports leagues — the NFL, the NBA and the NHL also included — that is in season during Juneteenth, which commemorates when slaves in Texas learned they were free on June 19, 1865, 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
While July 4 celebrates America breaking away from the British, Juneteenth represents a historic time for enslaved people whose descendants have gone on to do great things, including become some of the most important figures in baseball history.
Legendary rapper Chuck D of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Public Enemy grew up a big baseball fan. He has an iconic photo of Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in his possession. He’s often seen wearing a baseball cap with a P on it. The P, with some assuming it was for Public Enemy, was for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he was a huge fan of Clemente as a player and a humanitarian.
Chuck D has written songs that have been used by MLB around Hall of Fame announcements. His latest album, “We Wreck Stadiums,” is a collection of songs dedicated to baseball stars of the past. There is even baseball artwork in his book “Livin Loud,” an artistic presentation that showcases his skills as an illustrator, featuring more than 250 paintings, drawings and sketches.
Chuck D remembers three years ago when MLB inverted its logo for Juneteenth, making it black and white to honor the day. The comments under MLB’s Instagram post of the logo were a collection of mixed opinions. There was positive reaction to the gesture. Some felt the move wasn’t enough. Others saw it as the league injecting social issues into the game.
Chuck D said it was a move that’s helped baseball even three years later, a sign the league wants to acknowledge and engage with Black fans. Now 62 years old, Chuck D said he hadn’t been a die-hard MLB fan since the 1994 strike, but he still has an affinity for the sport he grew up with.
“MLB is trying to figure it out,” he said. “You know, teamwork in baseball, as far as Black folks were concerned, it was our biggest outlet. Especially talking (about) the national pastime, which was, like, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie — and a little bit of racism.”
In celebrating Juneteenth, baseball is acknowledging the Black community, but the number of American-born Black players is near its lowest total in nearly 80 years. According to a study by USA Today in April, only 6.1 percent (58 of 945) of players on Opening Day were Black, the lowest number since 1955.
MLB has several programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion. Programs like RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) are used to “provide baseball and softball playing opportunities for young people in underserved communities.” From a diversity perspective, Chuck D also acknowledged the work sports journalist Rob Parker and what the site he founded, MLBBro.com, does to highlight Black and Brown players in the game.
Additionally, Chuck D noted former major leaguer and TV analyst Harold Reynolds for his efforts. The two-time All-Star helped get Chuck D’s songs about baseball on MLB.TV. Chuck D was inspired to write “It’s So Hard to See My Baseball Cards Move On” during the COVID-19 pandemic. He finished the song toward the end of 2020 during baseball’s offseason; it was released in 2021.
If MLB is using Juneteenth as an opportunity to celebrate the Black community, Chuck D’s album can provide an assist as an unofficial soundtrack. The album is not dedicated solely to Black players, but it does feature songs about stars like Mays and Fergie Jenkins.
“Sports had been decimated by the pandemic, so people are looking for content. It just happened to be the right thing at the right time,” Chuck D said of his latest album. “(MLB) might have something vintage come up — like a Hall of Fame vote or if Pete Rose gets in or Barry Bonds or whatever — and I’m like, ‘Hey, listen, if you’re bringing up something vintage, I’m right there. I’ll come up with a song.’”
Chuck D said highlighting Juneteenth is important, but baseball has work to do, as evidenced by the reaction of some to the inverted logo. Still, baseball will continue to celebrate Juneteenth in a variety of ways.
MLB has today to show its progress. Perfect timing while much of the sports world is in the offseason.
(Photo of Chuck D: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Paisley Park)
