It was a celebration of Black baseball! This past July 7th, baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. partnered with the MLB for the first-ever “HBCU Swingman Classic,” Andscape reports. Kicking off All-Star week in Seattle, the game brought players from 17 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to showcase their talents on a national stage. Co-sponsored by the MLB & the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Youth Development Foundation, the goal is to create a pipeline for more African American baseball players, with the hopes of reclaiming the heyday of Black baseball.  “[The goal of the Swingman Classic is to amplify] the strength and talent of Division 1 HBCU players and telling the world that HBCU baseball programs are great and strong…Allowing these players to shine on this national platform during All-Star week, that’s a victory,” said Jean Lee Batrus, executive director of the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation.  Once known for iconic Black figures in the sport like Jackie Robinson, the MLB is now struggling with diversity in the sport and looking for ways to bolster Black inclusion, like many American institutions. By sponsoring Griffey Jr. 's Swingman Classic, they were able to bring together budding Black players and fans of the sport in what many described as an HBCU-esque homecoming type of feel.  “This is the most Black folks I’ve seen in a stadium here since Beyonce played at Lumen. I’m not even being funny,” attendee Omari Salisbury told Andscape.  Nearly 10,000 people gathered in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park for the festivities, which featured HBCU bands, players, and informational booths featuring various universities, and every member of the Divine Nine. Former MLB pitcher Marvin Freeman, who acted as a pitching coach for Team Manuel said “anyone who’s anyone in Black baseball was there.”  Ken Griffey Jr. partners with MLB for first-ever “HBCU Swingman Classic”/Alabama State infielder Randy Flores celebrates MVP award at the HBCU Swingman Classic/Photo Courtesy of Qwest Courtney/Getty Images   The Swingman Classic is the latest MLB sponsored effort to re-ignite the glory days of African American baseball, adding to previous DEI initiatives like the Dream Series, held during MLK Weekend, The RBI program, first launched in 1989, which focuses on baseball programs in inner cities across the globe and the Black College World Series, launched in 2021 by former Major League player Michael Coker. Griffey Jr. said he was both honored and overwhelmed by the support for the inaugural event.  “There’s a lot of people who wanted this to happen. Everybody jumped on board. We were turning down coaches who want to be a part of it,” he explained.  While many companies look to bolster diversity from a business revenue standpoint, reports show that the Major Leagues have actually continued to do just fine even without the presence of the Black community. According to Forbes Baseball, MLB grossed almost $3 billion last year alone but for the league, it’s not about the money, it’s about the l