‘IT SHOWS WHERE THE NEED IS’
Jason Heyward, Curtis Granderson and The Players Alliance distribute essential goods on the South Side as part of a 32-city tour in Black communities
Curtis Granderson noticed about 100 cars lined up as early as 90 minutes before The Players Alliance started to distribute boxes and bags of baseball equipment, essential goods and COVID-19 supplies at a West Pullman strip mall.
“It shows where the need is,” said Granderson, president of the TPA, a group of 143 current and former major-league players committed to form fair systems in an effort to alter the path of diversity in baseball.
“It shows the demand of what people want to have happen.”
The Players Alliance, formed shortly after the George Floyd killing on May 25, made two of its four weekend stops on Dec. 12 on the South Side as part of its 32-city tour in Black communities across the country with Pull Up Neighbor, a Black-owned community response team.
Thanks to financial commitments from players, MLB executives, the Cubs and White Sox, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and other donors, about 1,000 carloads were expected to be served at each stop this weekend, according to a spokeswoman.
“It’s been overwhelming, by far,” Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward said before loading bags and boxes in the backs of vehicles with 2020 first-round pick Ed Howard IV and infielder Nico Hoerner.
“Just to be able to immediately give it right back. There are things you brainstorm on, some things you hope you can happen. Talking about the issues in the neighborhoods across the country and in Chicago, especially on the South and West sides and where we’re able to give it back immediately. I appreciate being a part of it and those for being supportive.”
Because of safety protocols, most recipients remained in their vehicles while players, mascots from the Cubs and White Sox and hundreds of volunteers delivered the goods.
Despite the long lines, the recipients were served in an orderly manner, thanks to several law enforcement officials.
“I don’t live too far from here,” said Howard, a Chicagoan and Mount Carmel High School standout. “To give back is something I want to do, and I’m glad I get to do it.”
Howard, a member of TPA’s minor-league player committee, was excited to participate after Granderson, whom he described as a mentor, asked him.
“He always gives back,” Howard said. “He never big-leagues anybody. He’s a great dude.”
Hoerner has spent the offseason in Chicago and was glad to participate before traveling to Arizona to starting hitting.
“With the coronavirus, it’s harder to do things like this and I wish there was more chance for face-to-face stuff in the community,” said Hoerner, who like his fellow contributors wore a face mask.
Heyward emphasized that people were in need well before COVID-19 and stressed the programs of TPA and its association with baseball could serve as a positive influence to Black children.
“We just want to continue to spread positive vibes, showing people that is possible to do it with baseball,” Heyward said.
COVID-19 has made it extremely difficult for large groups of players to serve at multiple cities, but Heyward was glad to serve this weekend before traveling to Atlanta next weekend as part of TPA’s tour.
“I’m happy to be here and give back to the city we love,” Heyward said.
Granderson hopes the tour, which concludes in the Bay Area in late January, is just the part of the positive change the TPA seeks to cultivate and sustain in Black communities.
“The biggest thing people have to look at is people are looking for the quick fix,” said Granderson, 39, who recently completed a 16-year career among seven teams. “Not just now in 2020, but in general. You go on a diet, you want to drop 20 pounds tomorrow. Same thing with everything that’s happened over the course of the year. How do we fix some of the inequities? How do we fix some of the disparities going on? And we want them fixed tomorrow. But it starts today, and goes one day at a time.
“The best thing I’ve heard from Darryl Strawberry is when you play in the Big Apple, the best way to attack it is one bite at a time. You can’t eat the whole apple. Same thing with what we’ve got going on. We’re not going to be able to feed or clothe everybody today. But we can start some things today. Start with baseball equipment and smiles on faces and keep going. This tour is going until the end of January. This is the first of many things to come for us.”