Comedian and CNN personality Roy Wood Jr. is using his platform to do more than deliver punchlines. He’s helping to shift the spotlight onto a part of the sports world that has long gone overlooked — Black college baseball.
Through a partnership with Major League Baseball and the Ken Griffey Jr. Family Foundation, Wood recently traveled to several HBCUs across the South to document their baseball programs in the lead-up to this year’s Swingman Classic, a showcase of top HBCU talent held during MLB All-Star Weekend.
“The culture is as important as the reason that you’re going to the school,” Wood said during an appearance on the HBCU Sports Podcast. “No matter what Black college you choose… you’re still going to get some good culture. And that’s important.”
Wood’s video series, produced by MLB Network, features stops at Texas Southern, Grambling State, Southern University, and others. The mission is to highlight not just the players’ skills but also the unique energy, legacy, and mentorship that define HBCU athletics.
The Swingman Classic, created by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., brings together 50 of the top HBCU baseball players for a national stage. This year’s game will be held on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta and televised on MLB Network.
“Ken Griffey Jr. is a humble god, man,” Wood said. “He could be somewhere chilling on a yacht… but instead, he comes through and he pays it forward.”
Griffey, who bypassed college for the major leagues, launched the event in 2023 after observing how limited scouting access was for players at HBCUs. Wood praised Griffey’s efforts as more than symbolic.
“He looked around and said, ‘Wow, this sport has changed from when I played. What can I do to make sure that people are at least getting the looks they deserve?’ That’s selfless, man,” Wood said.
In the podcast hosted by HBCU Sports contributor writer Chris Stevens, Wood discussed the deeper challenges faced by Black baseball. He cited rising costs, declining municipal recreation programs, and a sports culture that now prioritizes early specialization and NIL money.
“You can’t say no to being a wide receiver instead of a center fielder if you’re trying to take care of your family,” Wood said. “It’s hard.”
He also noted that many HBCU baseball teams today include Latino players and others from underrepresented backgrounds, expanding the narrative of what Black college baseball looks like today.
“Baseball’s a travel sport,” Wood explained. “It costs money. And if your mama ain’t got the logistics to be gone with you for 10 days while you’re hitting baseballs in Oklahoma somewhere, it’s tough.”
Despite the challenges, Wood’s storytelling offers moments of joy and authenticity, including one Texas Southern player who said the food tipped the scale on his decision to sign.
“He said the coach sent him to a restaurant in Houston, and that was the tiebreaker,” Wood laughed. “That’s the kind of stuff that makes HBCUs special.”
As part of the broader effort to revive baseball participation in Black communities, MLB has also invested in local infrastructure. One recent example is the refurbishment of Willie Mays Park in Birmingham, Alabama, with modern turf and drainage to combat weather-related cancellations.
“That’s huge,” Wood said. “You don’t even get the reps you need to get better if the field’s underwater for three days.”
As the Swingman Classic prepares to take center stage, Wood hopes the stories he’s helped tell will resonate long after the cameras stop rolling.
“I think there are a lot of silent giants like that within the world of retired Black baseball players,” he said. “They just move in silence… and they do a lot for the game.”
For more on Roy Wood Jr.’s tour and the full Swingman Classic video series, visit MLBNetwork.com and search “Swingman.”
Editor’s Note: This article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed for accuracy and clarity by the HBCU Sports editorial team.
