Part 1 of a two part feature
In the gymnasium at P.S. 161 in West Harlem, about a dozen children, ages two to eight, practice baseball, their sneakers screeching along the wooden floorboards and baseballs bouncing off the walls.
Coach Kelvin McAllister Sr. roams among the players in the gym, providing tips and encouragement.
“We never had a lot of funds, but we had a lot of love and compassion for the kids in the community,” said McAllister, founder and director of the nonprofit Uptown Inner-City League (UICL). McAllister founded UICL in 1990 to offer mentorship and affordable opportunities in baseball, basketball, soccer, and flag football for hundreds of children ages two to 16. “We just want to provide a safe haven for them to come play, grow, learn, and build character,” he said.
In the multi-billion-dollar industry that is youth sports, wealth dictates access — and, by extension, opportunity and success. Sports like baseball, soccer, and basketball have increasingly become “pay-to-play,” with families expected to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, training, travel, and team fees. For many children, particularly those from inner-city and minority communities like Harlem, the rising financial commitment has priced them out of the game.
“I never want to see a kid say they want to play but my parents have no money,” McAllister said.
UICL’s New York Angels travel teams give players aged eight to 12 an affordable opportunity to showcase their talents outside of Harlem, taking trips to Cooperstown and other tournaments throughout the region.
Mentorship
“Growing up, there were a lot of male figures that were not in these young kids’ lives — they took flight, they left the mom,” said McAllister. In New York City, 34% of children live in single-parent households; more than 80% of those single parents are mothers, according to a study. “They need a role model, and I am going to be that role model — otherwise they can be driven in the wrong direction,” McAllister said.
“My role models were my coaches,” said Jeffri Batista, now a UICL coach. “The only thing I had to look forward to was playing sports on the weekends. I am just trying to be a great human being and pass my experiences on,” he said.
Batista remembered the dedication of one of his coaches when he was younger, Nathaniel “Natty” Brown, who would carry a baseball L-screen ten blocks through the streets of Harlem to throw Batista and other players batting practice. Even with an injured arm from his playing days, Coach Natty threw hundreds of pitches to help the players get better.
“After I injured my arm, I thought I should try to give back to the kids and share what I learned,” said Coach Natty, who is now the league’s treasurer. Natty played baseball, flag football, and basketball in the UICL program. He’s now retired from coaching after 24 years.
“The way that travel baseball is now, you have to be seen. To really get seen, you have to spend money,” he added. Playing out of the city is an important part of that experience…”
UICL has produced dozens of college players and a few big leaguers as well. Jeimer Candelario was born in Harlem and made his big league debut in 2016 for the Chicago Cubs. He now plays for the Cincinnati Reds.
“When you have successful folks of color within the community of Harlem, it tells young players that just because you live in the village of Harlem, do not let that be a stigma,” said McAllister.
This article is done fine. Thanks for writing this story, some good reading it sure is.