Phillies’ outfielder/shortstop Roman Quinn enjoyed helping the attendees to sharpen their timing as hitters. (Photo by Tina Garceau)
With two dozen youths, all eager to gain a greater sense of how they could excel as diamond dwellers, gazing at him Monday afternoon, Roman Quinn epitomized the joy of a Major League Baseball player just beginning his career and the pride of a young man happy to connect with fellow practitioners of America’s pastime. The Phillies’ outfielder/shortstop and the excited children fraternized at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 740 S. 17th St., as part of the MLK Day of Service, with Chevrolet announcing $25,000 in college scholarships for products of the Urban Youth Academy operating out of the space and at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park.
“This is my first time doing something this special on the holiday,” Quinn, 23, said to a throng of reporters. “It’s my first time here, too, so I’m enjoying myself and seeing some really dedicated kids in the process.”
The Florida native noted that he did not have a facility such as the 7,500-square-foot space in which to mold his game and expressed happiness over conducting the clinic in South Philly, the home, of course, to his franchise’s most rabid fans. Dedicated in July, the recreation spot’s Ryan Howard Training Center, named for the longtime slugger who played for the Phils from 2004 through last season, slamming 382 home runs and collecting 1,194 RBI, has played a pivotal role in helping the organization to offer free, year-round instruction to more than 8,000 participants in the Phillies Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities initiative. As a tenured partner with the organization, the Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers want those ambitious youngsters, who also engage in educational and vocational programs at Howard’s eponymous venue, to feel confident about their postsecondary education possibilities, leading Kelley Kelly, president of the Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers, to flash a warm smile in presenting the five-figure endowment.
“We’d been talking about this for months,” Kelly said of her employer’s enthusiasm for building up the esteem for the building, which has already merited honor as a source of inspiration. “This facility is such a great place, too, so being that this is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, we wanted to be true to his message of believing in yourself. That doesn’t seem too hard for people who live here because Philadelphians are tough people, and they know how to persist. We expect the same from these children.”
Kelly, who added that the Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers respect the workings of the center so much that they are hoping to hold board meetings there, moved among the stations for hitting, fielding and pitching instruction, proud to be one of the instrumental voices in securing the first college scholarships for Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy participants. Making the trek from Southwest Philly, Brandon Gooding and mom Aneesah Evans greatly appreciated the immediate display of camaraderie and will look to the future to see if they can be the beneficiaries of additional funds.
“I absolutely love the Phillies,” the matriarch gushed, reflecting on days cheering for outfielder/first baseman Von Hayes. “Everything that they’re doing for our children is just what Dr. King would have wanted in that they’re looking to and succeeding at being a light to our future generations of leaders. That’s especially important when you realize how many inner-city youths are benefiting.”
Evans’ eight-year-old descendant gleefully caught throws and fielded ground balls, hurling them back to his RBI facilitator with strong left-handed efforts. Having learned about the RBI brainchild through their house of worship, Sharon Baptist Church, they have delighted in being two-year presences in the program.
“I really like that I can get better at hitting the most,” Brandon said of the skill that Quinn helped the day’s attendees to improve on by watching them take cuts off a tee. “I want to continue that because it’s so much fun to run around the bases and score.”
His mother noted that four youths from their church consistently participate in the program, and she hopes that regardless of how people become aware of the option, which has aided numerous South Philadelphians, they should maximize its components, including the chance to gain assistance for their collegiate studies.
“Who knows what the costs of a college education will be when Brandon, his peers, and kids younger than them are ready for that time in their lives?” Evans pondered. “Every little bit helps in this day and age, and I hope what Chevy is doing leads others to consider being there for these children, too.”
One such South Philadelphia alumnus of the RBI legacy, Dom Raia, loved his opportunity to help his eventual successors on the mound to fire crisp fastballs, revealing “I see potential in everyone.”
“The RBI program gives you so many opportunities to grow,” the 2011 graduate of Girard Academic Music Program and Chestnut Hill College degree holder said as his charges worked on their grips. “I’m fortunate to have been able to have done so much through my time involved with it, so it’s good to spread the message that being an RBI player is going to open doors for you.”
The Girard Estate native fondly recalled advancing to the RBI World Series in ’10, the year that he also hurled a no-hitter for the GAMP Pioneers, and intended to mention his joy as a first-time promoter of the resources to his groups. Quinn, who debuted with the Phillies last Sept. 11, also relished the chance to encourage immersion into his vocation, feeling that no matter whether Monday’s participants follow in his footsteps by scoring a Major League Baseball roster spot, they will succeed in life if they retain belief in their goals.
“Have a dream, and nourish it,” he said, adding that the MLK Day of Service, named for the civil rights leader slain 49 years ago this April 4, should serve as an eternal source of inspiration. “You never know what will happen if you give yourself a chance, but it’s obvious what’s going to happen if you don’t.” SPR
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com. Comment at southphillyreview.com/news/features.
The Phillies have been great supporters of the Ryan Howard Training Center since its July 2016 opening. (Photo by Miles Kennedy/Phillies)
