Blue Wahoos Partnership With Cox Communications, 'Nine Initiative' Creates Special Day
The mid-afternoon temperature on the field had climbed near 95 degrees, but it didn’t deter from excitement on this day among some special guests. In a partnership with Cox Communications, one of the Blue Wahoos’ charter partners, a group of 50 youths from the Boys and Girls Club of the
The mid-afternoon temperature on the field had climbed near 95 degrees, but it didn’t deter from excitement on this day among some special guests.
In a partnership with Cox Communications, one of the Blue Wahoos’ charter partners, a group of 50 youths from the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, along with 50 youths in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, were able to take in the Blue Wahoos game June 23 – the final game on the team’s first half schedule.
For many, it was their first time watching a game at Blue Wahoos Stadium. A ceremonial first pitch was thrown by one of the Boys and Girls Club members. The groups were recognized prior to the game as well on the field.
The game itself didn’t go the Blue Wahoos way, ending in a 6-4 victory by the Chattanooga Lookouts. But the youths were treated to a game with three home runs hit, plus the Blue Angels flying above the stadium in the seventh inning, following their return as headliners for the 50th annual Dayton Air Show in Dayton Ohio.
It was another memorable experience that Cox Communications provided.
“I can hardly believe we’ve been partner now for more than 10 years and I love seeing all the growth,” said David Deliman, market vice president for the Gulf Coast at Cox Communications, speaking to Blue Wahoos lead broadcaster Erik Bremer during an in-game interview. “Believe me, we’ve seen the impact this Minor League Baseball team has made over the years with connecting families and fans.”
Cox Communications was the sponsor of “The Nine Initiative,” created by Major League and Minor League Baseball to honor and celebrate the historic impact of African American baseball players of the 1930-50’s era. In recognition of the moment, the Blue Wahoos wore uniforms similar to the Pensacola Seagulls, a team that was member of the Negro Southern League during the segregation era.
The number 9 was worn by legend Jackie Robinson during his minor league career before he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 when making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He later played an exhibition game in Pensacola while with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the former Legion Field.
In 1947, Jake Wood was 10-years-old playing baseball in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Wood, now 86 and a Pensacola resident for more than 20 years, was at the Blue Wahoos game on June 23, honored for his impact in Major League Baseball.
Wood made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1961, becoming the first Black player to come through the Tigers organization and make his MLB debut. That season, Wood led the American League in triples, was third in stolen bases, top 10 in hits and finalist for American League rookie of the year.
Wood was joined on the field by Pensacola residents Joe Cannon, his brother Tim Cannon and Adron Chambers, all honored with Wood for their pro baseball contributions as black players.
This pregame ceremony that included all four throwing out a first pitch, was part of the Cox Communications day to recognize “The Nine Initiative.”
“We have a long history of supporting digital equity, diversity and inclusion in our community right here in the Gulf Coast,” Deliman said in his in-game radio interview. “We brought our friends from the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida as our special guests.”
Following the game, as part of Family Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the kids were able to circle the bases and toss soft, rubber baseballs in the outfield.
“We’re very grateful for the partnership with Cox Communications,” said Blue Wahoos president Jonathan Griffith. “They have been with us since our first season in 2012 and they are constantly looking for new ways to get involved and make an impact.
“Our Cox Clubhouse area behind home plate on the concourse is something that is used year-round. It is used during all of our public events. And Cox high-speed internet is available for use by the fans in their seasons and throughout all areas of the stadium, so it has been a wonderful relationship.”