“We’d take the baseballs that the old players had. And after it unraveled, we’d get some tape and wrap it up and make it back more like a baseball again.” — James “Red” Moore
I had the pleasure of meeting James “Red” Moore several years prior to him passing in 2016. A graduate of Atlanta’s historic Booker T. Washington High School, he later played in the Negro Leagues for his hometown Atlanta Black Crackers.
I love Moore’s quote because it reminds me to be gritty. The relentless pursuit of purpose and grit is built through adversity.
I currently serve as the Chief Visionary for L.E.A.D. Center For Youth, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization operating in Atlanta. Through our year-round Pathway2Empowerment, sport-based youth development (SBYD) programming, we are inspiring and equipping Black males with the empowerment they need to live sustainable lives of significance.
When L.E.A.D. was established in 2007, we operated with a $40,000 budget. In 2022, we raised 1.7 million dollars. That required a lot of grit from Team L.E.A.D., and lots of love from our donors and supporters. Glory be to God.
- How much grit is in your tank?
- How do you respond to adversity on the baseball field?
- How about off the field?
- How do your coaches help through adversity?
- How do they help you prevent it?
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.
