Buck Leonard Weekend celebrated

Embracing the theme of “In concert with community and moving,” the Buck Leonard Association for Sports & Human Enrichment held its annual Buck Leonard Weekend.

The two-day event began on Oct. 2 at the Imperial Center, when more than 50 awards were presented to players, parents, coaches and other volunteers during the Annual Baseball Awards and Recognition Program, which featured the organization’s second “Best of the Town” Food Court Extravaganza. Attendees got to enjoy tasty food samples from 12 local restaurants. All awards and trophies were sponsored and presented by various organizations and individuals of the community.

In a two hour Academy Awards–style program with an audience of nearly 300 onlookers, special guest presenters reiterated the evening’s theme and handed out awards named to honor a host of Negro Leagues Baseball greats. Nash Rocky Mount School Board Chairwoman Evelyn Bullock encouraged parents and the community to unite to provide the activities and support that children need to achieve positive outcomes.

“We’ve got your back,” she said before presenting the Buck O’Neil Sportsmanship Awards to Kenneth J. Tinsley of the Barons, Malik Lewis of the Grays, Tyreeka Sessoms of the Giants, D’Vonta Taylor of the Monarchs, Garrett Batchelor of the Crawfords, Jamar Ellis of the Newark Eagles and Jashawn Hunter of the Rookie League. O’Neil, a former Negro League player and the first black Major League Baseball coach, supported the Buck Leonard Association for Sports & Human Enrichment with his presence during Buck Leonard Weekend each year until his death in 2007.

Speaking to the award theme, Jessie Jones, retired educator and a founding member of BL-ASHE, said: “In every community there is work to be done, in every nation there are wounds to heal – and in every heart there is the power to do.”

Jones presented the Judson (Boojum) Wilson Most Valuable Team Player awards to Tyshawn Davis, Joseph Henderson, Lykii Whitaker, Tyreese Wiggins, Jaylen Silver, Jaquan Lynch and Percy Harper. Hall of Famer Wilson played with Buck Leonard and the Homestead Grays in 1931-32 and 1940-45. Leonard related in his autobiography, “Buck Leonard, the Black Lou Gehrig,” that Wilson was dynamic and fearless both on and off the field.

The Effa Manly Awards, named in honor of the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, were presented in four categories. Anne Edge, educator and president of the Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter of Delta sigma Theta, handed out the Effa Manley Most Outstanding Female Player Award to Tyreeka Sessoms and the Most Improved Player Award to Brenyia Lewis. Edge explained that one of the sorority’s goals is to begin to focus on male empowerment toward their development of independence and self reliance. Ruth Smith, representing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, gave out the Effa Manley Most Valuable Player Award to Saija Blackwell and the Most Promising Female Player Award to Summer Hicks.

The local Alpha Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity sponsored the Josh Gibson Best Catcher’s Award, which was presented to Montrell Whitaker by Robert Lunceford. Lunceford pledged the fraternity’s support, offering whatever is needed to help move youth in the league to the next plateau.

Two “Best Pitchers” awards were given honoring Leon Day and Satchel Paige, both Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. Lykii Whitaker and Joseph Henderson received the awards presented by the Rev. Clifford Layton, a former Negro Leagues pitcher with the New York Black Yankees.

Former Negro Leagues players Carl Long and Hubert “Big Daddy” Wooten handed out the Leonard & Gibson “Thunder Twin” Award to Marques Burney and Malik Lewis. The First Generation Investment Club sponsored the Cool “Papa” Bell Spike Award, presented to Kenneth Tinsley and Tashawn Davis, by Nash County Commissioner Fred Belfield Jr. Louis Mitchell of the Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity presented the Jackie Robinson Most Valuable League Player Award to Malik Lewis.

Charlie Leonard, nephew of Buck Leonard, traveled from Kinstonto present the Buck Leonard Golden Glove Award to Xavier Wooten. Traveling the greatest distance – from Maryland – for the awards presentation was Rocky Mount native and Diamond Contributor Elijah Thorne. Thorne presented the Little League Championship Trophy to the Homestead Grays coached by William Phillips, Jeff Davis and Andre Richardson.