A little-talked-about ripple effect in the declining numbers of major league Black baseball players is the decline in Black baseball fans. The players on the field notice it (at every level). The fans notice it. But it is not front and center to those covering the game. Since I've founded the Mixtape, I've been exploring the questions surrounding Black baseball fandom. And I must admit that my opinion has evolved over the last four years. Check out some of my recent thoughts on this solo podcast. This conversation will carry forward as a BBM theme throughout the 2026 baseball season and year.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is now on Substack. Please subcribe for free and, if you feel called, support with a yearly subscription. We need it.

The Black Baseball Mixtape partners with the Players Alliance, Minority Prospects, and Numbers Game Scorebooks.

Last year, you may have stumbled across a press story or social media post about a 40-year-old man who decided to play college baseball at the JUCO level.

Well, that man is Aaron Rouselle, and he is our special guest on this joint episode of In the Booth hosted by Flobo Boyce and the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast.

Coach Rouselle is a true inspiration to anyone with a dream. Yes, he played college baseball at an advanced age, but he is also a 2X liver transplant survivor, a cancer survivor, he had shingles, and he even had mold growing in his lungs. The fact that Aaron is with us today is indeed a miracle.

He now leads young men in the game and teaches them more than baseball. He teaches his players about life.

This episode is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Numbers Game Scorebooks, and Minority Prospects.

2026 will be the inaugural Banana Land season for the Indianapolis Clowns. If that name sounds familiar — it should. The Clowns bring a rich history to Banana Ball, rooted in the Negro Leagues. The Clowns were established in 1930 and were ultimately disbanded in 1962. Known as much for their entertainment as their baseball, the Clowns are the perfect team for a contemporary renewal in Banana Land.

Coach Errick Fox has been tapped as the Clowns' manager. He will have some extremely talented players joining him — none more notable than 3X All-Star, NL MVP, and World Series Champion Ryan Howard. Howard has signed on as Primetime coach for the Clowns. All-Star and World Series Champion Jackie Bradley Jr. will also suit up for the Clowns. Coach Fox will have at his disposal some of the top talent in Banana Land history.

On this episode, Coach Fox talks about his journey from playing in Atlanta to coaching at the college level to landing in Banana Land. He also speaks candidly about what he expects to accomplish in the team's first season.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is now on Substack! Please leap and subscribe.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Minority Prospects, and Numbers Game Scorecards.

Cheats from the Black Baseball Mixtape and Felina from & They All Went to the Ballpark discuss the three-part HBO Original documentary Alex vs. A-Rod. This is the documentary that Alex Rodrigueaz wants you to see in the hopes that you will leave with a better understanding of the man and the player.

Cheats and Felina discuss key points of the documentary and answer the critical question: Did it work? Do they leave this documentary feeling different about Alex, A-Rod, or both?

Cheats is the founder of the Black Baseball Mixtape (https://blackbaseballmixtape.substack.com/)

Felina is the founder of & They All Went to the Ballpark

(https://felina510.substack.com/)

Welcome to the first Black Baseball Mixtape episode of the year. Cheats is joined by Flobo (In the Booth with Flobo Boyce), April (10th Inning Talk), and Malik (Buttamane Baseball) to discuss their outlook on the new year and upcoming baseball season. The BBM crew is joined by legendary baseball writer Bill Ladson (MLB.com, MLBbro.com), together they discuss a variety of subjects from the lack of American-born Black catchers, to Aaron Judge's crossover star potential, to his love for Reggie Jackson, and the excitement of the 2025 World Series.

This episode is a great way to jump-start your baseball-loving year. Dig deep with the BBM crew and truly nerd out talking about the greatest game ever played: baseball.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is now on Substack. Please visit the Substack and support BBM with a paid subscription.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Minority Prospects, and Numbers Game Scorecards. Please support these wonderful partners.

Order your very own Black Baseball Mixtape Scorecard here: https://www.numbersgame.co/products/black-baseball-mixtape-single-game-scorecard

We are excited to welcome Mo'ne Davis on the 10th Inning Talk podcast. All About April was joined by Cheats for this exclusive chat with Mo'ne Davis. Davis, 24, was drafted 10th overall in last week's inaugural Women's Professional Baseball League draft by the Los Angeles team.

The conversation is diverse and encompasses a wide range of topics. In the WPBL, Davis will attempt to change positions once again. She gained national fame from her pitching days in the Little League World Series. She changed to middle infield, playing for the Hampton University Pirates softball team, and now she will take on the outfield for her LA squad.

Davis joined us from her home in the Jersey area, but is excited and motivated to join the WPBL in Springfield, Illinois, in 2026.

DISCLAIMER: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED LIVE AND HAD SOME TECHNICAL (INTERNET CONNECTION) ISSUES. WE APPOLIGIZE FOR THAT.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Numbers Game Scorecards, Rebellion Harvest (Sunflower Seeds), and Minority Prospects.

Want to join the BBM Discord? Message the show at BlackBaseballMixtape@gmail.com.

Cheats and April visit with Black Baseball Media's Coach E (Earnest Horton) to talk all things Black baseball.

We discuss:

The State of Youth Baseball in Urban Cities

The importance of support from parents, coaches, and local government

A strong youth-to-college baseball pipeline

The MLB players with the most Swag

What players can move the next generation of Black baseball players forward

And much more.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Numbers Game Scorecards, Rebellion Harvest (Sunflower Seeds), and Minority Prospects.

Want to join the BBM Discord? Message the show at BlackBaseballMixtape@gmail.com.

It's the start of the offseason, and the Black Baseball Mixtape crew is back to discuss some offseason moves and baseball predictions. Cheats is joined by Flobo and April as they discuss MLB's gambling troubles, MLB's boom from the World Series, and, of course, the power of Shohei.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Numbers Game Scorecards, Rebellion Harvest (Sunflower Seeds), and Minority Prospects.

Want to join the BBM Discord? Message the show at BlackBaseballMixtape@gmail.com.