Former Bulldog Pitcher Among Homegrown Supporters for Historic Game

Chicago will serve as both stage and homecoming when Alabama A&M travels north to play in the inaugural HBCU Baseball Classic at Wrigley Field, marking the first time Historically Black Colleges and Universities compete at the iconic home of the Chicago Cubs.

For Kirk D. Marshall, a Chicago native and former Bulldog pitcher from 1982 to 1986, the moment carries deep personal meaning. He will be among a group of six former Alabama A&M players from the city returning to watch their alma mater take the field in a venue woven into the fabric of baseball history.

“This is absolutely a proud moment for former Bulldogs, especially for those of us from Chicago who understand what Wrigley Field means to the game,” said Marshall. “To see Alabama A&M take that field is something I never imagined when I first arrived on The Hill.”

Marshall, a 1986 graduate of Alabama A&M University with a degree in telecommunications/ business management, said the opportunity reflects both pride and progress for a program that helped shape his life. Raised on Chicago’s South Side and now a resident of Lynwood, he serves as a Village Trustee and owns Special Transport Company, LLC, while also on staff as a recruiter for Alabama A&M in the Chicagoland area.

His journey to The Hill began in 1982 when a former high school teammate encouraged then-coach Press Parham to bring him south to strengthen the pitching staff. That decision, Marshall said, changed everything. Without the benefit of baseball scholarships at the time, something he and others worked hard to restore, he found support across the athletic department.

“The decision to come to Alabama A&M changed my life forever,” he said. “The athletic department took care of all my financial needs. I managed basketball, kept defensive stats for football and of course played baseball. The people, the support and the opportunity shaped who I am today and moments like this remind me why that connection has never left.”

Decades later, his connection to the University remains strong. He has missed just two homecomings in nearly four decades, a testament to a bond forged through mentorship, opportunity and what he described as genuine care from coaches and staff.

On May 2, Alabama A&M will face Prairie View A&M University in a landmark matchup that celebrates HBCU culture, legacy and excellence.

For Marshall and fellow alumni, the game represents more than a contest. It is a full-circle moment that connects past and present, city and campus, and a new generation of Bulldogs stepping onto one of baseball’s most storied fields.

“Bringing the first HBCU Baseball Classic to Chicago is nothing less than amazing,” Marshall said. “Thanks to Black Baseball and the SWAC for making this happen. This will be an unforgettable moment in history. Go Bulldogs!”