Formed in 1960, James Mosher will celebrate its 50th season next year, and, as in many big cities, participation has dwindled - previous decades have had twice the number of players as this past season's 320. The league was used as an example of the struggle of urban youth baseball in a book released last spring, African Americans Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, by Sharon Freeman.
"In Baltimore, baseball is something like No. 5 in popularity," Singletary said. "That's amazing, because it's been No. 1 forever. Nothing against those sports, but any time lacrosse and track have moved ahead of baseball, that really says something."
The young, gifted, black Rays and Phillies might be an aberration or the beginning of a new talent wave. It definitely is a rare opportunity that Singletary, and others like him, don't want to waste.
