Lansing Sun

To mark the beginning of Black History Month, Minor League Baseball launched a new outreach initiative that focuses on the black community, as well as honors and celebrates black baseball pioneers and civil rights leaders.

Christened “The Nine” after the number worn by Jackie Robinson during his one season in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, the program will also provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide, a league-issued press release said.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s vice president of Minor League Business Operations, said in the release. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

The MiLB said “The Nine” follows its Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in last season.

As part of a coordinated and centralized campaign, the release said, “The Nine” will connect MiLB teams’ existing black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events.

The Nine will also salute the game’s black pioneers and civil rights leaders with ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community.

According to the league, Negro Leagues commemorative games have been played in honor of the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock, Texas, the Bradenton (Florida) Nine Devils and Page Fence Giants near Lansing, Michigan, with additional celebratory games in the works for the 2022 season and beyond.