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Down the Bay

August 18, 2023 by C.J. Stewart

Baseball was the first sport invented by Americans which is why it is considered America’s Favorite Pastime. To play baseball was what it inextricably meant to be American. That’s why Rube Foster established the Negro Leagues. They played the game because they loved it and they wanted to be respected as Americans.

Hank Aaron was born in a poor Black section of Mobile, AL, called “Down the Bay.” He later moved to the middle-class Toulminville neighborhood when he was 8 years old. Before playing for the Milwaukee Braves, he established his hitting skills with the Indianapolis Clowns.

I had the pleasure of meeting the late Bill Bartholomay on December 18, 2016, along with John Schuerholz. Mr. Bartholomay told me that as one of the conditions of Hank Aaron coming to Atlanta with the Braves and proving that we were in fact a city “Too Busy To Hate,” he had to be allowed to live anywhere of his choosing in the city. Mr. Aaron chose to live in the middle-class Southwest Atlanta Cascade Community until his death. Ambassador Andrew Young once said of Hank Aaron, “Aaron’s work on the baseball field and being the face of baseball in the Deep South was a form of civil rights activism, showing that achievements can be made if the playing field were equal.”

As I sat in the stands watching the re-branded Hank Aaron Invitational, I thought about the life that Mr. Aaron lived as a Black child trying to become one the greatest baseball players of all time. He lived a life of poverty and middle-class as a child and upper middle-class as an adult.

I am of the belief that the number of African-Americans in baseball will not substantially increase until there are increased resources and exposure for Black youth that are living at and below the poverty level. Whether they know it or not, low, middle and upper-middle class Black youth must receive the benefit of the doubt, respect, and trust in order to gain access to the ranks of becoming a collegiate Power Five and/or professional baseball player.

That is why the Hank Aaron Invitational is so vital. Legacy is what you leave in people. Although Mr. Aaron is no longer with us, his name still carries weight and benefits some of the best young African-American players that are among us.

Scenes from the Hank Aaron Classic at Truist Park on July 30, 2023. Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves

C.J. asked Austin Phillips from Fort Worth, TX, a young man who he mentors and a player in the Hank Aaron Invitational, to share his thoughts on what he experienced: What does it mean to you to be chosen as one of the top 44 participants for the Hank Aaron Invitational?

“It means a lot to me. Being able to come out here to represent the best version of myself, and to also represent my family and the state of Texas is amazing. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about the great Hank Aaron, MLK and the history of Atlanta.”

Hank Aaron was born into poverty and then moved into a middle class community at the age of eight. We know that baseball afforded him an upper class lifestyle. Is there a difference of baseball talent that you’ve seen among players from each of these three socioeconomic classes?

“I wouldn’t say there’s a difference in talent, but I will say there is a difference in access to information and skill training.”

What are some places that you visited while in Atlanta for the Hank Aaron Invitational?

“We got to visit the great MLK birth home, MLK’s church, this delicious restaurant called Paschal’s and one of the nicest fields I’ve been on—Truist Park. If I could, I would visit all these spots again.”

What place did you visit that inspired you the most?

“The place that inspired me the most was definitely Truist Park. Getting to play on a Big League field showed me how much I really enjoyed the game and that one day I want to be able to travel to all sorts of fields to play the game that I love.”

Now that the Hank Aaron Invitational is over, what are your top three specific baseball goals for the next three years?

“One of my goals is to get drafted. Another one is to influence other young Black players to play baseball cause not a lot of us are playing. The last one is to make All-State for my high school baseball season.”

Why—and how—ASSESS-ing is the way forward

August 16, 2023 by C.J. Stewart

Assessment before teaching is like a baby learning to walk before running. With more than 25 years of experience developing some of baseball’s top players, I have learned a lot of great lessons the hard way.

I’ve wasted time throwing batting practice to hitters who couldn’t take two consecutive good swings using a tee.

I’ve talked too much to hitters who are dominant visual learners.

I have operated my business on the trite “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” mantra because I didn’t have a proven coaching philosophy or methodology.

I am no longer that rookie “faking it until I make it coach.”

My coaching philosophy is that practice prepares you for performance and performance prepares you for practice. My time tested and true A.T.B.A.T.S. Methodology starts with a thorough assessment of my hitters ensuring that I tap into their mind, body and soul.

As I was recently on a flight at 30,000 feet, I started thinking about the word assess. The word has been on my mind because L.E.A.D. Center For Youth is now partnering with Minority Baseball Prospects (MBP), which will help us win championships on the diamond and continue helping our boys win at the game of life.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, LEAD is sponsoring 100 slots for baseball players in Atlanta Public Schools (2024-2028 classes) to get evaluated by MBP’s proprietary, signature Swaggy Chain rating system. Select baseball players will be invited to join LEAD’s Ambassador Program which includes year round baseball training, development and competition as well as college and career support, all at no-cost to families.

I struggle with ADHD and I am high functioning. Because of this, acronyms are a Godsend for me.

A – Adaptable
S – Sluggish
S – Safe
E – Energetic
S – Stress-conqueror
S – Skilled

“Success is not for those who want it, nor those who need it, but for those who are utterly determined to seize it–whatever it takes.” — Darren Hardy

People that want to become Major League Citizens in Atlanta and/or Major League Baseball Players must be adaptable rather than being sluggish and playing it safe. Their energy needs to be on 100% especially when there is stress because skills pay the bills.

“Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad.” — Manly Hall

adaptable – The ability to adjust to new conditions.
sluggish – Slow moving oftentimes as a result of lack confidence in your ability to do something.
“playing it safe” – To be careful and not take risks to avoid failure.
energy – The strength required for sustained physical, emotional and/or mental activity.
stress – There are two types of stress, eustress and distress. Eustress is moderate or normal psychological stress and interpreted as being beneficial. Distress is extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain and is interpreted as being detrimental.
skills – Talent is what you do well and habits are things that you do well repeatedly without thought. Skills are things that you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

Being and building the best ‘you’

August 9, 2023 by C.J. Stewart

As Jay-Z once said, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.”

August is “National Black Business Month.” My wife, Kelli, and I have been business owners in the baseball industry for over 25 years. We are innovators and trendsetters taking seriously the calling that God has for our lives.

We have helped develop hundreds of players who have excelled at all levels of baseball, including the Major Leagues. For two years, we even represented 10 clients in the MLB Draft—six of whom reached the Majors.

We did this through our for-profit, Diamond Directors, while at the same time establishing our award-winning, sports-based youth development organization, L.E.A.D. Center For Youth.

Being a Black business owner is not easy because oftentimes, we do not receive the benefit of the doubt, respect or trust from varying races of people.

My success as a coach is rooted in my spiritual gifts, life experiences, my partnership with Kelli, my core values, my mentors and coaches.

Having these six things protects me from wearing myself out. I am not trying to be 10 times better than others.

Speaking of the number 10, I have a list of 10 Black owned businesses who have inspired me to be my best self.

Know Your Truth?
iSmooth Media
Humble Beginnings
Cruvie Clothing
Minority Baseball Prospects (MBP)
The Players Alliance
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Slim + Husky’s Pizza
Be the Bridge
404 Coffee

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

Why L.E.A.D.’s partnership with Minority Baseball Prospects matters to you

August 2, 2023 by C.J. Stewart

#earntheA is a part of the rebranding of L.E.A.D. Center For Youth, a sports based development organization that uses the sport of baseball to help Black boys overcome three curve balls that threaten their success: crime, poverty and racism.

When L.E.A.D. started in 2007, we served Black boys citywide, attracting some of the top players from Dekalb, Rockdale and Fulton counties to play baseball for us proudly wearing the Ambassador “A” on their jersey and hat. They put into action our core values of excellence, humility, integrity, loyalty, stewardship and teamwork on and off the field. They weren’t perfect but they were our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and we protected them and their need to dream.

In 2010, we committed to exclusively serving Black boys, grades 6-12, from Atlanta Public Schools where I received my foundational education. We continued to have success on the baseball field competing in national tournaments.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the quality of our play on the field to suffer. The boys in our program possessed the spirit of competition, but lost the opportunity to receive thousands of reps and hundreds of in-game at-bats needed to compete at the national level.

L.E.A.D. now is partnering with Minority Baseball Prospects (MBP) to help us win championships on the diamond and continue helping our boys win at the game of life.

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, L.E.A.D. will sponsor MBP signature evaluations for 100 high school baseball players attending Atlanta Public Schools.

Using MBP’s proprietary, signature Swaggy Chain rating system, select players will be invited to join L.E.A.D.’s Ambassador Program which includes year-round baseball training, development and competition, as well as college and career support, all at no-cost to families.

Quincy Carter is a friend of mine and former teammate in the Chicago Cubs Minor Leagues. In high school, he was the top quarterback in the country but delayed getting on the football field because he was our second round draft pick for the Cubs. He later went on to be QB1 at the University of Georgia and the first Black quarterback to start for the Dallas Cowboys. I remember talking to him one night after he had a long day of Cowboys Training Camp. He told me that he was working really hard to earn his Cowboys Star.

I was confused–he was their second round pick and the heir apparent to the recently retired Hall-of-Famer, Troy Aikman. Well, apparently, the Cowboys didn’t just give you a Star because you were on the team.

Starting this year, the Ambassador “A” will be earned in a new way.

August through October, our boys will compete in baseball games and national tournaments for L.E.A.D. wearing our signature red jersey and hat with a number on the back. However, the front of the jersey and their hat will be blank until our 2023-24 Ambassadors are announced in November.

At that time they will have worked to #EarnTheA.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

9 skills you need to win at baseball—and life

July 26, 2023 by C.J. Stewart

I was recently in Jamaica for a vacation with my wife and two daughters. I was able to work out and read every day. I also was able to swim in the pool and/or the ocean every day.

As a child, I learned how to swim at the Adams Park Summer Camp byway of Atlanta Parks and Recreation. As an adult, I have not had much time to swim, but swimming in Jamaica made me feel like a kid again.

I have never used a float device until Jamaica. I had to laugh at myself because I have a hard time trusting people, and there I was trusting this float to keep me up. The float was longer than my 6-foot 2-inch body, but it couldn’t have weighed less than 5 pounds.

I saw other people floating, but I was trying to figure out how this thing was going to hold up my 235 pound body.

I finally got relaxed and I was able to enjoy it for over 15 minutes until my ADHD took over and I needed to do something more stimulating.

But while I was floating, I began to think about coaching. Coaches can be the ones who help a player get from one place to the other. Yet, there are some players who have too much weight for any float or coach to handle.

I have been coaching professionally for more than 25 years. I am a thought leader when it comes to sports-based youth development (SBYD), which is a theory and practice model for direct youth service.

According to CASEL, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process by which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Some of the SEL capacities people need in order to live a good life as a citizen, but definitely required to be an elite baseball player include:

Contribution
Goal orientation
Positive identity
Self-confidence
Self-efficacy
Self-management
Social capital
Social connections
Social skills

I have coached hundreds of baseball players. Lots of them begin lacking most and sometimes all of these SEL capacities.

Angela Duckworth said it best, “Mindlessly ‘going through the motions’ without improvement can be its own form of suffering.”

Like trying to win at the game of life, baseball is a complex sport that requires strategy and skill. I define talent as what you do well, while skills are what you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.

May God bless those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn because in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the unskilled will suffer.

How good do you want to be in baseball? What support do you need that you don’t have that will help you be the best baseball player you can become?

Do you have mental, emotional and/or physical issues that make it difficult for you to be properly coached?

They are important questions to ask.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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