West Charlotte baseball/softball event pays tribute to Jackie Robinson’s legacy

As Major League Baseball marked Jackie Robinson Day with ceremonial jerseys and social media posts, west Charlotte honored his legacy in its own special way — raising a No. 42 banner on the outfield wall at Richard “Stick” Williams Dream Fields.

The Knothole Foundation unveiled the permanent tribute during its “Westside Story” event Tuesday, dedicating the banner in a ceremony that coincided with MLB’s annual celebration of Jackie Robinson’s historic debut.

In Charlotte’s historically underserved west side, this connection to baseball’s transformative figure carried particular significance as the sport continues to grapple with declining Black participation nationwide.

“I’d like to see more of our [Black] kids play baseball,” said Elmore “Moe” Hill, a former minor league player with roots in the region who became the first African American to play American Legion baseball in North Carolina.

Hill’s concerns about representation echo throughout baseball.

“When I played, there’s 20% African Americans in the major leagues, and now it’s only six and even less in college,” noted Morris Madden, co-founder of The Knothole Foundation. “Why is that fact so important to them now? And they’re starting to understand the significance of [the number] 42 or the significance of going to games and seeing one or two kids out here that look like them playing a game.”

The foundation’s three-day event directly addressed these disparities, hosting high school baseball and softball camps, clinics and tournament games featuring six local baseball teams and four softball teams from West Charlotte area schools.

Did Dodgers swing and miss with White House visit?

Meanwhile, baseball’s complex history with race resurfaced nationally as the Los Angeles Dodgers — Robinson’s team —navigated criticism for their recent White House visit amid controversy regarding the removal (and subsequent restoration) of Robinson’s military service story from Department of Defense websites.

Los Angeles Times columnist Dylan Hernandez characterized the decision as contradicting the organization’s historical stance on racial justice. This critique resonated with Wali Cathcart, a Negro Leagues veteran who threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday. Cathcart played for the Newark Eagles and Joe Black National All-Stars.

“I think there is a responsibility that goes with that as far as African American and they will always have that. And I think that they should be held to that [standard],” Cathcart said.

Cathcart, who still proudly wears Dodgers gear, spoke passionately about preserving Negro League history — a mission that aligns with Charlotte’s growing role in connecting young Black athletes with baseball’s heritage.

“When Jackie Robinson came in (and broke the) color barrier, it was a death knell for the Negro League,” Cathcart explained. “I want to see more focus put on the Negro League... there were plenty of great players who you never heard of. I mean, tremendously great players.”

For Charlotte’s youth, many of whom attend schools within minutes of the Dream Fields complex, understanding this history transformed baseball from what Cathcart called “just throwing the ball” into something deeply meaningful.

“If you know anything about Jackie Robinson, he wasn’t one of these kind of guys that went along just to get along,” Cathcart added. “He stood up for principles that he thought was right.”

Reconnecting Blacks with America’s pastime

The Knothole Foundation’s approach embraced both technical skills and historical education, a combination Madden saw as crucial for reconnecting Black youth with America’s pastime.

“A lot of times our kids that we talk to them about the history of the game, they just don’t know about some of the things that African American guys and gals had to go through to get to where we are today,” Madden said. “Jackie Robinson was not the best Negro League baseball player, but he was one I know is going to handle the adversity.”

Beyond history, Hill identified structural barriers that continue limiting opportunity. During visits to local facilities, he observed minimal Black representation: “You see they maybe have two Black kids, one playing, one at the bench.”

These observations motivated the foundation’s mission to provide equitable access to facilities, equipment and instruction for underrepresented Charlotte youth.

“Once they understand what’s really going on with baseball, I think they will be more interested,” Madden explained. “I always tell them the single hardest thing to do is to hit a baseball. Only thing in life, I know what you can do three times out of 10 and make a million dollars.”

For west Charlotte families, this understanding came through events like Tuesday’s baseball and softball tournament. Beyond playing games, participants received coaching that Cathcart described as revealing baseball’s hidden sophistication.

“When you learn it’s very scientific, standing out there on the mound, not just throwing the ball... when you get to understand baseball, understand it correctly, it’s an exciting and interesting game,” Cathcart said.

Robinson’s legacy lives large in west Charlotte

As the sun dipped behind Dream Fields on Tuesday, the new No. 42 banner caught the last of the light — a permanent reminder that in west Charlotte, Jackie Robinson’s legacy isn’t just remembered once a year. It’s a challenge to build diamonds of opportunity where every child gets to play.

In Washington, the symbolism was loud. In west Charlotte, the substance was real. Kids took batting practice under Carolina blue skies. Coaches gave high-fives. Cathcart shared stories from his Negro Leagues days. And a banner went up on the outfield fence — one that won’t come down when the cameras leave.

The kids don’t need to understand the politics behind Robinson’s military record being scrubbed from a federal website. What they’ll remember is who showed up. Who taught them to throw, to swing, to believe this game belongs to them, too.