βOne of the initiatives for Carolinas Metro Reds is to get black kids more interested in playing the game,β Morris Madden, CMRβs co-founder, said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Itβs off Tuckaseegee Road in west CharlotteΒ where kids are laying the foundation for their young baseball careers.
βWe never turn anyone away because of costs. You just canβt. Β Because you could be turning away a Jackie Robinson,β said Sandra Madden.
Sandra and her husband, Morris Madden, were brought together through their love of baseball.
βWe clicked because both of us had the same interests. He was a baseball player. I love coming to see him play,β Sandra Madden recalled smiling.
Morris Madden made a living pitching in Major League Baseball.
β[Los Angeles] Dodgers, then the [Cincinnati] Reds, and then the [Detroit] Tigers. Β And then the [Pittsburgh] Pirates [and] back to the Dodgers,β he said pointing to his jerseys hanging up in his office.
After his playing career, Morris Madden began noticing a trend among young African American players in baseball.
βWhen I played professionally it was like 19-20% that played, but now it has dwindled down in the professional ranks to, like, 6%. And even less in college at 3%,β he explained.
In 2011, the Maddens started the nonprofit known as Carolinas Metro Reds.
βOne of the initiatives for Carolinas Metro Reds [CMR] is to get black kids more interested in playing the game,β Morris Madden said.
The nonprofit caters to kids ages 4 to 18. β―It introduces baseball to an underprivileged community while offsetting the high costs. It also includes a more in-depth element to ensure kids are on track to achieve their goals.
βKids from 4 years old to the sixth grade, we make sure they go through our reading program,β Morris Madden shared. Β βAfter that, they go through our junior and senior transition program where we start doing dives with the kids and have them understand — what is it that you want to do in life?β
Josiah Holmes is one of the hundreds of young people that play. Β Heβs a shortstop on CMR.
β[I enjoy] playing baseball and playing with your friends,β he said.
The kids said the organization is like a family and itβs making an impact on their lives.
Itβs why WCNC Charlotte decided to make an impact on CMR.Β
On behalf of WCNC Charlotte, the Parham Family Fund and Steel Skin Realty, CMR received $4,000 to help continue their work. The Maddens said the money will be put to good use.
βThe bigger we get, the more expensive itβs going to be to do what we want to do and what we have to do,β Morris Madden said.
Itβs a mix of coaches and volunteers that help shape young people in the community.
βGod, heβs all in the mix,β shared Sandra Madden.
Contact Nick Sturdivant at nsturdiva1@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X andΒ Instagram.
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