Returning here after 52 years later for this historic event that is one of 85 in the world to ever be done, and it’s the first time being done at Northwood Little League, it touches the heart. Darryl Smith was *** Major league pitcher from 1980 to 1997 playing for teams across the US and the world. He got his start at Northwood Baseball League. I think I’m one of seven African Americans from Baltimore City to ever make MLB. I’m the only one from Northwood to ever make MLB, and my hopes, dreams, and aspirations with the different things that I do. is to try to create another one. He last played there at 14 years old. Now he’s among 10 MLB alumni who will mentor around 100 kids ages 6 to 16 at the Free Legends for Youth clinic. It’s the first time the program is being held in Baltimore. We want to make sure our kids can actually touch their dreams now. They have to meet Major League Baseball players. They have to see what. They can be in the field, off the field, and that’ll grow them as adults and human beings, uh, for the future. Marcus Dent is president of the Baltimore Orioles RBI program, which ensures kids have access to baseball and softball in Baltimore City and surrounding counties. Dent grew up nearby and says bringing the clinic to Baltimore didn’t take any convincing. 3 phone calls, 2 text messages, and it was done. This was birth, but it was already innately in our hearts, so it didn’t take much, he says. It’s one thing to dream, but it’s different seeing your dreams live and in living color, especially as the number of black baseball players has dramatically decreased. Baseball is *** dying, dying sport in the city. In the inner city, but we’re trying to bring it back here to Northwood Baseball League. Smith says the number of African Americans playing baseball has dropped from 19% to 2% since the eighties. Northwood is the second oldest black league in the nation. League president Michael Martin says they once had more than 400 kids enrolled. Now it’s around half that. We’re trying to just bring baseball back to the inner city, keep it at *** low cost for the parents, and Just let these kids know that through baseball we give life skills and the clinic will refine their playing skills with pros helping with hitting, pitching, base running, motions, pick off moves, follow through, and more. If they don’t have someone to support them, we will. The clinic is this Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30. There are still *** few spaces available for boys and girls. For details, head to our website.
Legends for Youth Clinic in Baltimore connects youth with MLB alumni
Updated: 5:19 PM EDT Jul 15, 2026
Baltimore youth will have the opportunity to learn baseball from former major leaguers during a free clinic this Saturday, marking the first time the program has been held in the city.Darryl Smith, a former MLB pitcher who played from 1980 to 1997, is among 10 MLB alumni mentoring around 100 kids ages 6 to 16 at the “Legends for Youth Clinic.” Smith, who began his baseball journey at Northwood Baseball League, shared his thoughts on the event. “Returning here after 52 years later for this historic event, that is one of 85 in the world to ever be done, and it’s the first time being done in Northwood Little League, it touches the heart,” Smith said. Smith also reflected on the challenges African American players face in the sport. “I think I’m one of seven African Americans from Baltimore City to ever make MLB. I’m the only one from Northwood to ever make MLB, and my hopes, dreams and aspirations with the different things that I do is to try to create another one,” he said. Marques Dent, president of the Baltimore Orioles RBI Program, which works to ensure access to baseball and softball for kids in Baltimore and surrounding counties, emphasized the importance of the clinic. “We want to make sure our kids can actually touch their dreams now. They have to meet Major League Baseball players. They have to see what they can be in the field, off the field. That’ll grow them as adults and human beings for the future,” Dent said. Dent, who grew up nearby, said organizing the clinic was a straightforward process.”Three phone calls, two text messages and it was done. This was birthed, but it was already innately in our hearts, so it didn’t take much,” he said. Michael Martin, president of Northwood Baseball League, highlighted the decline of baseball in the inner city and the need to revive it. “Baseball is a dying sport in the city, in the inner city, but we’re trying to bring it back here to Northwood Baseball League,” Martin said. Smith noted that the percentage of African Americans playing baseball has dropped from 19% in the 1980s to just 2% today. Northwood, the second-oldest Black league in the nation, has also seen a decline in enrollment, from over 400 kids to about half that. “We’re trying to just bring baseball back to the inner city, keep it at a low cost for the parents and just let these kids know that through baseball, we give life skills,” Martin said. The clinic will focus on refining skills such as hitting, pitching, baserunning, motions, pick-off moves, follow-through and more, with MLB alumni providing hands-on guidance. “If they don’t have someone to support them, we will,” Smith said. The clinic will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in northeast Baltimore, with limited spaces still available for boys and girls.
BALTIMORE —
Baltimore youth will have the opportunity to learn baseball from former major leaguers during a free clinic this Saturday, marking the first time the program has been held in the city.
Darryl Smith, a former MLB pitcher who played from 1980 to 1997, is among 10 MLB alumni mentoring around 100 kids ages 6 to 16 at the “Legends for Youth Clinic.” Smith, who began his baseball journey at Northwood Baseball League, shared his thoughts on the event.
“Returning here after 52 years later for this historic event, that is one of 85 in the world to ever be done, and it’s the first time being done in Northwood Little League, it touches the heart,” Smith said.
Smith also reflected on the challenges African American players face in the sport.
“I think I’m one of seven African Americans from Baltimore City to ever make MLB. I’m the only one from Northwood to ever make MLB, and my hopes, dreams and aspirations with the different things that I do is to try to create another one,” he said.
Marques Dent, president of the Baltimore Orioles RBI Program, which works to ensure access to baseball and softball for kids in Baltimore and surrounding counties, emphasized the importance of the clinic.
“We want to make sure our kids can actually touch their dreams now. They have to meet Major League Baseball players. They have to see what they can be in the field, off the field. That’ll grow them as adults and human beings for the future,” Dent said.
Dent, who grew up nearby, said organizing the clinic was a straightforward process.
“Three phone calls, two text messages and it was done. This was birthed, but it was already innately in our hearts, so it didn’t take much,” he said.
Michael Martin, president of Northwood Baseball League, highlighted the decline of baseball in the inner city and the need to revive it.
“Baseball is a dying sport in the city, in the inner city, but we’re trying to bring it back here to Northwood Baseball League,” Martin said.
Smith noted that the percentage of African Americans playing baseball has dropped from 19% in the 1980s to just 2% today. Northwood, the second-oldest Black league in the nation, has also seen a decline in enrollment, from over 400 kids to about half that.
“We’re trying to just bring baseball back to the inner city, keep it at a low cost for the parents and just let these kids know that through baseball, we give life skills,” Martin said.
The clinic will focus on refining skills such as hitting, pitching, baserunning, motions, pick-off moves, follow-through and more, with MLB alumni providing hands-on guidance.
“If they don’t have someone to support them, we will,” Smith said.
The clinic will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in northeast Baltimore, with limited spaces still available for boys and girls.