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They had the smoke: HBCU legends who left mark in Major League Baseball

Hall of Famers Lou Brock, Andre Dawson and Larry Doby are among the future MLB stars who played at historically Black schools.
Led by future Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock (kneeling far left), Southern University won the 1959 NAIA national championship. Brock would to sign with the Chicago Cubs before getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)

Credit: Courtesy Southern University Sports Information

Led by future Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock (kneeling far left), Southern University won the 1959 NAIA national championship. Brock would to sign with the Chicago Cubs before getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)
By and
11 hours ago

Former Atlanta Brave Marvin Freeman scoffs at the idea of having ever played a position other than pitcher — even in college.

“Man, the pitcher is the star of the show,” he said with a laugh Tuesday. “Everybody else is the supporting cast. The pitcher’s mound is a stage. No other spot on the field is raised up. I’ve always wanted that smoke.”

ExploreHBCU Swingman Classic to showcase talent to kick off MLB All-Star weekend
Marvin Freeman, who played for the Atlanta Braves from 1990-93, pitches during his college days at Jackson State University. (Courtesy of Marvin Freeman)

Credit: Courtesy Marvin Freeman

Marvin Freeman, who played for the Atlanta Braves from 1990-93, pitches during his college days at Jackson State University. (Courtesy of Marvin Freeman)

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Marvin Freeman played at Jackson State University from 1982 through 1984 before being drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies. (Courtesy of Marvin Freeman)

Credit: Courtesy Marvin Free

Marvin Freeman played at Jackson State University from 1982 through 1984 before being drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies. (Courtesy of Marvin Freeman)

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Other HBCU legends who became MLB stars

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  • Lou Brock — Southern University: Hall of Famer and one of the greatest base stealers in MLB history. Brock collected over 3,000 hits, swiped 938 bases and helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to two World Series titles.
Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock played for Southern University in the 1950s. After college, he tried out for the Chicago Cubs and signed as a free agent. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 in what many experts say was the worst trade in baseball history. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)

Credit: Courtesy Southern University Sports Information

Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock played for Southern University in the 1950s. After college, he tried out for the Chicago Cubs and signed as a free agent. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 in what many experts say was the worst trade in baseball history. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)
  • Andre Dawson — Florida A&M: The 1987 National League MVP and Hall of Famer hit 438 home runs and was an eight-time Gold Glove selection over a 21-year career. Nicknamed “The Hawk,” Dawson starred for the Expos and Cubs before finishing his career with the Red Sox and Marlins.
Andre Dawson walked on to the FAMU baseball team as a freshman. He would go on to star for the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs on the way to a Hall of Fame career. (Courtesy of Florida A&M)

Credit: Courtesy Florida A&M University

Andre Dawson walked on to the FAMU baseball team as a freshman. He would go on to star for the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs on the way to a Hall of Fame career. (Courtesy of Florida A&M)
  • Larry Doby — Virginia Union University: The first Black player in the American League and a seven-time All-Star. Doby helped integrate the AL just months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the NL. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
Larry Doby (right), who played at historically Black Virginia Union University, was the second Black player in the major leagues and entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. (David Jennings/AP 1998)

Credit: DAVID JENNINGS

Larry Doby (right), who played at historically Black Virginia Union University, was the second Black player in the major leagues and entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. (David Jennings/AP 1998)
  • Rickie Weeks — Southern University: Dynamic second baseman and former No. 2 overall draft pick for the Milwaukee Brewers. Weeks was a two-time All-American at Southern and went on to hit 161 home runs and steal 132 bases over a solid MLB career, including an All-Star nod in 2011.
Rickie Weeks won two college batting titles at Southern University. In 2003, Weeks was named Baseball America College Player of the Year and won the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur player. He was the second player selected in the 2003 draft, the highest ever for a historically Black college player. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)

Credit: Courtesy Southern University Sports Information

Rickie Weeks won two college batting titles at Southern University. In 2003, Weeks was named Baseball America College Player of the Year and won the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur player. He was the second player selected in the 2003 draft, the highest ever for a historically Black college player. (Courtesy of Southern University sports information)
  • Hal McRae — Florida A&M: Feared designated hitter and outfielder for the Kansas City Royals. A three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, McRae later became a manager.
Florida A&M's Hal McRae was selected by the Reds in the sixth round of the 1965 draft with the 117th overall pick. (Courtesy of Florida A&M)

Credit: Courtesy Florida A&M University

Florida A&M's Hal McRae was selected by the Reds in the sixth round of the 1965 draft with the 117th overall pick. (Courtesy of Florida A&M)
  • Marquis Grissom — Florida A&M: Two-time All-Star and 1997 World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves. One of the premier leadoff hitters and center fielders of the 1990s, Grissom stole 429 bases, won four Gold Gloves and played 17 MLB seasons.
Marquis Grissom played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, including being part of the Braves' 1997 World Series team. (Special to the AJC 2015)
Marquis Grissom played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, including being part of the Braves' 1997 World Series team. (Special to the AJC 2015)
  • Donn Clendenon — Morehouse: Clendenon, the 1969 World Series MVP, helped lead the “Miracle Mets” to their historic title. He hit 159 career home runs and was known for his power, leadership and intelligence on and off the field.
Donn Clendenon graduated as a letterman in nine sports at Atlanta's Booker T. Washington High School before rejecting a scholarship to UCLA to stay home and attend Morehouse College. In the 1969 World Series, Clendenon batted .357 (5-for-14) with three home runs and four RBI for the Mets and was named World Series MVP. (AP 1969)

Credit: AP

Donn Clendenon graduated as a letterman in nine sports at Atlanta's Booker T. Washington High School before rejecting a scholarship to UCLA to stay home and attend Morehouse College. In the 1969 World Series, Clendenon batted .357 (5-for-14) with three home runs and four RBI for the Mets and was named World Series MVP. (AP 1969)
  • Vince Coleman — Florida A&M: In his career, the 1985 National League Rookie of the Year stole 752 bases, including three consecutive seasons with more than 100 steals — a feat unmatched in the modern era.
One of the game's great speedsters, the St. Louis Cardinals' Vince Coleman (right) ranks sixth all time in stolen bases and stole more than 100 bags in a season three times. (Mark Duncan/AP 1988)

Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

One of the game's great speedsters, the St. Louis Cardinals' Vince Coleman (right) ranks sixth all time in stolen bases and stole more than 100 bags in a season three times. (Mark Duncan/AP 1988)
  • Joe Black — Morgan State University: In 1952, he became the first Black pitcher to win a World Series game and was named National League Rookie of the Year with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
  • Ralph Garr — Grambling State: Known as “The Road Runner,” Garr won the 1974 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves with a .353 average. A beloved figure known for his speed, energy and impact at the top of the lineup, he finished his career with a .306 batting average.
The Braves' Ralph Garr led the National League in hitting in 1974 with a .353 average. (AJC file)

Credit: AJC file photo

The Braves' Ralph Garr led the National League in hitting in 1974 with a .353 average. (AJC file)
  • Oil Can Boyd — Jackson State: A fan favorite and ace for the Boston Red Sox in the 1980s. Boyd racked up 78 wins and was known for his flamboyant personality and big-game pitching.
  • Marvin Freeman — Jackson State: Reliable right-hander best known for his breakout 1994 season with the Colorado Rockies, going 10–2 with a 2.80 ERA.
Reliever Marvin Freeman pitched for the Braves from 1990 to 1993 but had his greatest season in 1994 with the Rockies (10-2, 2.80 ERA en route to finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting). (Otto Greule/Allsport)
Reliever Marvin Freeman pitched for the Braves from 1990 to 1993 but had his greatest season in 1994 with the Rockies (10-2, 2.80 ERA en route to finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting). (Otto Greule/Allsport)
  • Earl Battey — Bethune-Cookman University: A four-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove catcher for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox during the 1960s.
  • Cecil Cooper — Prairie View A&M University: Five-time All-Star and one of the best first basemen of his era. Cooper hit .298 over his career with more than 1,800 hits, mostly with the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Tommie Agee — Grambling State: Gold Glove center fielder and key piece of the 1969 world champion New York Mets. Agee’s two legendary catches in the World Series remain etched in baseball lore.
The 1969 New York Mets pose for a 10th anniversary reunion photo at New York's Shea Stadium in 1979. Grambling University's Tommie Agee, who made two impressive defensive plays in center field to help preserve a Mets victory in Game 3 of the World Series, is second from right in the middle row. Morehouse College's Donn Clendenon, who was named 1969 World Series MVP, is second from the left in the middle row. (Bob Schutz/AP 1979)

Credit: AP

The 1969 New York Mets pose for a 10th anniversary reunion photo at New York's Shea Stadium in 1979. Grambling University's Tommie Agee, who made two impressive defensive plays in center field to help preserve a Mets victory in Game 3 of the World Series, is second from right in the middle row. Morehouse College's Donn Clendenon, who was named 1969 World Series MVP, is second from the left in the middle row. (Bob Schutz/AP 1979)
  • Bill Foster — Alcorn State: Hall of Fame pitcher and one of the Negro leagues’ greatest hurlers. Foster starred for the Chicago American Giants and was known for his pinpoint control and complete-game dominance.
  • Buck O’Neil — Edward Waters College: A pioneering figure in baseball, O’Neil was the first Black coach in MLB history and a tireless ambassador for the Negro leagues. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
Buck O'Neil, here being introduced before a minor league all-star game in 2006, was a champion of Black ballplayers during and after his career. He died in 2006 and was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP 2006)

Credit: AP

Buck O'Neil, here being introduced before a minor league all-star game in 2006, was a champion of Black ballplayers during and after his career. He died in 2006 and was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP 2006)
  • Ray Brown — Wilberforce University: Dominant pitcher for the Homestead Grays during the Negro leagues’ heyday. A Hall of Famer known for his big-game performances and sustained excellence across two decades.
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About the Authors

Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.

Zaire Breedlove is an intern for AJC's UATL and a journalism major at Kennesaw State University. In the past, he's written and managed The Sentinel, and served as a Reporter for Fresh Take Georgia at the Center for Sustainable Journalism, focusing on Immigration and statewide political coverage.