As our nation continues to grapple with how to combat systemic racism, four of the 10 African-American players on the Seattle Mariners 40 Man Roster sat down with broadcaster Dave Sims for a virtual panel discussion about their experiences as Black men in life and in baseball.

Participating in the panel were infielders Dee Gordon, J.P. Crawford, Shed Long Jr., and outfielder Kyle Lewis.

The panel was moderated by Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims, one of only two African-American play-by-play broadcasters in Major League Baseball.

Growing up the son of a Major League pitcher, Gordon said he didn’t play organized baseball until high school because there weren’t any other Black kids who played.

The fact that the Mariners have 10 African-American players on the 40 Man Roster, by far the highest number in Major League Baseball, has helped them find a sense of community on the field and in the clubhouse.