Black History Month Feature: Five Notable Players in Franchise History
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club. While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.
While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”
Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Akron RubberDucks franchise.
Albert “Joey” Belle
Before becoming the big muscle in the middle of the Cleveland lineup in the mid-1990s, Albert Belle went by the name Joey and was a member of the brand-new Canton-Akron Indians in 1989. Belle was a force in the new franchise’s lineup, batting .282 with 20 homers, 20 doubles and 69 RBI for the “Little Indians” in 89 games.
Belle’s strong season caused Cleveland to promote the 22-year-old up to the Majors in 1989 where he appeared in 62 games and drove in 37 runs. Belle spent 12 years in MLB playing for Cleveland, Chicago and Baltimore while batting .293 with 381 home runs, 389 doubles and 1,239 RBI.
CC Sabathia
One of the biggest names to come through Canal Park, Sabathia made his debut for the Aeros in 2000 at the age of 19. Sabathia made 17 starts for Akron and went 3-7 with a 3.59 ERA, 90 strikeouts and an opponent’s batting average of .223 in 90.1 innings pitched.
The following season, 2001, Sabathia opened the season with Cleveland and never looked back en route to a 19-year career with Cleveland, Milwaukee and New York earning a Cy Young award in 2007 and a World Series ring in 2009. Sabathia finished his big-league career 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3093 strikeouts.
Dave Roberts
Before swiping one of the biggest bases in ALCS history for the 2004 Boston Red Sox and before becoming just the second African American manager to win a World Series with the 2020 Dodgers, Roberts was traded from Detroit to Cleveland with Tim Worrell for Geronimo Berroa in late June 1998. After joining the organization, Roberts made an immediate impact in the Akron Aeros lineup batting .361 with seven home runs, 33 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 56 games.
His sparkling play earned him an end-of-year promotion to Triple-A Buffalo in 1998 and in 1999, Roberts made his Major League debut for Cleveland. Roberts spent 10 years in MLB for Cleveland, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Boston before becoming the first base coach for the Padres in 2010 and Dodgers manager in November 2015.
Grady Sizemore
Sizemore came to the Cleveland organization in late June 2002 as part of a blockbuster deal that sent Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew to the Montreal Expos for Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Lee Stevens. In 2003, Sizemore made himself a household name to the baseball world when he hit .304 with 13 home runs and 78 RBI while swiping 10 bases in 128 games for the Akron Aeros, leading them to their first Eastern League Championship. The follow offseason, Sizemore catapulted all the way up to number 9 on the Baseball America prospect rankings.
In 2004, Sizemore made his debut in Cleveland and began a six-year stretch as one of the top players in MLB, making three straight All-Star teams from 2006-2008 and leading Cleveland to the ALCS in 2007. Injuries unfortunately derailed Sizemore’s career, but in total the outfielder spent 10 years in MLB for Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay hitting .265 with 150 home runs and 518 RBI.
Juan Hillman
In 2021, Hillman had his best professional season in 21 games with Akron, going 10-4 with a 3.77 ERA and 85 strikeouts. Hillman tossed the RubberDucks’ only complete game in 2021 when he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out six against the Altoona Curve in the second game of a double header on Aug. 6.
Hillman led qualifying pitchers in the Double-A Northeast in ERA (3.77) and led the league in wins with 10 when he was promoted to Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 31. Hillman’s performance helped the RubberDucks finish a league-best 73-46, and the team won the league championship. After the season, Hillman was named to the Double-A Northeast All-Star team as the top left-handed pitcher.
The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The RubberDucks season is powered by FirstEnergy at Canal Park, with the home opener April 12, 2022, against the Reading Fightin Phils at 7:05 PM. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 330-253-5151 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or visit akronrubberducks.com/. For more information about the team, please call 330-253-5151, visit the website at akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, or on Twitter @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram @akronrubberducks.
RubberDucks announce New Additions to the Extreme Foods in 2025
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May 9: Ducks drop seesaw battle to Somerset 7-6 in 11
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Somerset Patriots (13-18) 7, Akron RubberDucks (20-11) 6 WP: Jordany Ventura (1-0) LP: Davis Sharpe (1-3) Save: Harrison Cohen (2) Summary The Somerset Patriots outlast the Akron RubberDucks 7-6 in 11 innings in a game that saw five lead changes on Friday night at
May 8: Akron tosses another shutout, Bazzana picks up three hits in 5-0 win
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (20-10) 5, Somerset Patriots (12-18) 0 WP: Carter Spivey (1-0) LP: Brendan Beck (2-1) Save: N/A
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(AKRON, OHIO) May 5, 2025 – The action of Akron RubberDucks baseball is coming to over-the-air and cable platforms this spring and summer, as Rock Entertainment Sports Network will broadcast 15 games featuring Cleveland Guardians prospects from Canal Park during the 2025 Eastern League season, beginning with Saturday, May 10,
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(AKRON, OHIO) April 3, 2025 – As the Akron RubberDucks open the 2025 Eastern League season in Richmond, Virginia, on Friday, April 4, their games will return to their radio home, NewsRadio 640 WHLO, continuing a longstanding partnership with iHeartMedia Akron/Canton. RubberDucks games will also be available to stream online
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(AKRON, OHIO) December 16, 2024 – Single game tickets are now on sale for all 69 Akron RubberDucks regular season home games from April 8-Sept. 7, 2025 at Canal Park. Fans can purchase single game tickets at akronrubberducks.com/tickets or by calling 855-97-QUACK. Single game ticket prices start as low as
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(AKRON, OHIO) March 27, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks announce the mystery bobblehead giveaway presented by MCA of Akron/UA Local 219 on June 7 will be of Cleveland native Donna Kelce, and the mystery bobblehead giveaway presented by Distillata on Aug. 2 will be of actress Stacy Carroll. Kelce graduated
Habitat For Humanity 50/50 Raffle Winning Numbers
Past Winning Numbers for the Habitat For Humanity of Summit County Raffle at Canal Park: - May 9: A-4811111 - May 8: A-1706999 - May 7: A-1396720 - May 6: A-7437107 - April 27: A-5564444 - April 26: A-1366689 - April 24: A-1728593 - April 23: A-8610816 - April 22:
RubberDucks team up with Swensons Drive-In Restaurants to become the Akron Galley Boys for two games this season
(AKRON, OHIO) February 26, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks and Swensons Drive-In Restaurants announce a partnership for the Akron Galley Boys nights on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28. “Much like two great middle infielders make an amazing double play tandem, we are excited to partner with Swensons for
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(AKRON, OHIO) March 18, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks and Luigi’s Restaurant announce a partnership for the Akron Cheese Salads night on Friday, July 11. “We are thrilled to work together with Luigi’s to make our Akron Cheese Salads night even better,” RubberDucks President and General Manager Jim Pfander said.
Hit the ice with Matt Doherty at Canal Park August 9th for the Hum Goalie Goalie VIP Package
Purchase VIP Package (AKRON, OHIO) February 3, 2025 – Matt Doherty, the actor best known for his role of Lester Averman in The Mighty Ducks franchise, will be at Canal Park on Saturday, August 9. Tickets are available now for a special pregame VIP meet-and-greet with Doherty that includes a
Strike the Heisman pose with Troy Smith at Canal Park September 6th for the Scarlet & Gray VIP Package
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May 7: Ducks blank Patriots 3-0 behind Maltrud's strong start
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (19-10) 3, Somerset Patriots (12-17) 0 WP: Rorik Maltrud (2-1) LP: Cam Schlittler (2-3) Save: Davis Sharpe (2)
May 6: Davenport and Denholm dominate as Ducks defeat Patriots 3-0
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (18-10) 3, Somerset Patriots (12-16) 0 WP: Aaron Davenport (2-0) LP: Bailey Dees (1-2) Save: Trenton Denholm (1)
May 4: Ducks fall 3-2 in Sunday finale
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Altoona Curve (14-13) 3, Akron RubberDucks (17-10) 2 WP: Cam Sanders (1-0) LP: Ross Carver (1-1) Save: N/A Summary The Akron RubberDucks rally back late, but the Altoona Curve walked it off in the bottom of the ninth to win 3-2 on Sunday afternoon
May 3: Mace the ace and Bazzana's bomb help Ducks win 5-3
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (17-9) 5, Altoona Curve (13-13) 3 WP: Tommy Mace (4-2) LP: Cy Nielson (1-2) Save: Davis Sharpe (1) Summary Tommy Mace dominated for six innings and Travis Bazzana homered late to help the Akron RubberDucks defeat the Altoona Curve 5-3 on Saturday
May 2: Ducks fall 6-2 in rain shortened game
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Altoona Curve (13-12) 6, Akron RubberDucks (16-9) 2 WP: Jaden Woods (4-2) LP: Rodney Boone (0-1) Save: Valentin Linarez (1) Summary Cooper Ingle doubled twice, but the Altoona Curve beat the Akron RubberDucks 6-2 in a rain shortened six innings on Friday night at
May 1: Akron tops Altoona 4-2 in afternoon contest
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (16-8) 4, Altoona Curve (12-12) 2 WP: Rorik Maltrud (1-1) LP: Po-Yu Chen (0-2) Save: Jake Miller (1) Summary Rorik Maltrud allowed just one run over six innings and Kahlil Watson picked up three hits as the Akron RubberDucks down the Altoona
April 30: Pitching, power and speed lead Ducks to 6-0 win
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (15-8) 6, Altoona Curve (12-11) 0 WP: Aaron Davenport (1-0) LP: Jarod Bayless (0-1) Save: N/A Summary Aaron Davenport fans five over six innings and Kahlil Watson homers as part of a two-hit day as the Akron RubberDucks shutout the Altoona Curve
April 29: Ducks fall 10-2 to Curve
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Altoona Curve (12-10) 10, Akron RubberDucks (14-8) 2 WP: Valentine Linarez (4-1) LP: Shawn Rapp (0-2) Save: N/A Summary The Altoona Curve strike for eight in the middle innings to take the series opener from the Akron RubberDucks 10-2 on a rainy Tuesday night
April 27: Akron wins 16-7 slugfest
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (14-7) 16, Richmond Flying Squirrels (5-16) 7 WP: Tommy Mace (3-2) LP: Joe Whitman (0-3) Save: Ross Carver (1)