Strong Alumni Turnout Underscores Support for Milestone Baseball Series

Alabama A&M University alumni from across the country are gathering in Chicago this week ahead of the inaugural HBCU Classic at Wrigley Field, where the Bulldogs will face Prairie View A&M in a historic matchup. Alumni connected at a Thursday evening HBCU Mixer, joining fellow graduates and supporters in advance of events leading up to the May 2 game.

Black Baseball Media CEO Earnest Horton, whose organization works to expand exposure for Black baseball players, said the Alabama A&M presence has been noticeable as alumni arrive from across the country.

“You all are showing up in a major way,” said Horton. “We’re seeing alumni come in, reconnect and invest in something meaningful. That’s what this is about — bringing people together and creating opportunity.”

Horton said the turnout reflects the broader significance of the HBCU Classic and its mission to elevate Black college baseball.

“It’s special to see this kind of momentum in a city like Chicago,” he said. “This moment is about exposure, opportunity and continuing to grow the game.”

The event is the result of planning over the past year, bringing together organizers, university leaders and the Chicago Cubs to create a national platform for HBCU programs. Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant said the University was intentional in its decision to participate.

“They brought forward a well-organized vision with the right partnerships in place,” Bryant said. “That gave us confidence this would be a quality experience for our student-athletes and alumni.”

The gathering also brought together generations of Bulldogs, including former players who helped build the program’s legacy. Among them was Gladstone Trotter Jr., who played for Alabama A&M from 1959 to 1962 and later worked as an educator and public servant.

Marcus Spencer, known as DJ Double M, served as the DJ for the mixer. Spencer was drafted by the White Sox in 2010 and owns an entertainment company in Chicago.

Chicago native Vincent Avery, another former Bulldog and retired Chicago police officer, attended with his grandson, reflecting the event’s multigenerational significance.

“I’m going to Alabama A&M in 2035,” his grandson, Jeremiah, said.

Younger alumni were also part of the turnout. Jaleah Mapp, who earned her degree in sports management from Alabama A&M in December 2025 and is now pursuing her MBA, returned to Chicago for the event with her mother. Her brother Jalen, a Prairie View alumnus, is flying in for the game from Dallas tomorrow.

“I’m proud to see alumni come together and support this game,” Mapp said. “It’s bigger than just one school — it’s about the HBCU community showing up.”

As anticipation builds for the game at Wrigley Field, Horton said the Chicago event is intended to be the first of many.

“This is a starting point,” Horton said. “We’re already in conversations about what comes next, and the goal is to continue creating opportunities like this for HBCU programs across the country.”