Nearly 50 years before Coco Gauff was making history on the tennis courts, it was her grandparents who were making a difference in their community by breaking barriers, showcasing integrity, and, more importantly, giving young Black children an opportunity to learn life lessons through the game of baseball and softball.
In 1971, amid the then-segregated neighborhood of Delray Beach, Florida, Eddie Odom Jr. took some of the first steps toward changing the landscape of baseball in his community.
As a boy, Odom Jr. had been denied the opportunity to play organized baseball because of his race, an exclusion that stayed with him for decades. After playing in the minor leagues for a few years, Odom Jr. was determined that no child in his neighborhood would face the same barrier.
“When I got older,” said Odom Jr., “I told myself I was going to start my own league.”
In 1970, Odom Jr. did exactly that, creating a community where every kid could step onto the field, regardless of race. When Odom Jr. tried to bring interested kids from his neighborhood to the existing league across town, however, they were turned away because the league boundaries excluded Black neighborhoods. But Odom Jr. did not let that discourage him, and instead, gathered kids together and started practicing at a nearby park.
After a long year of getting the league off the ground, Odom Jr. decided that they were ready for the next step — competing against other local teams. When he took his team to the other side of town to compete, however, the league official told him he was unable to schedule a game because they were not officially charted with Little League® International. Later that night, the same official quietly invited Odom Jr. to his home and gave him the guidance he needed to charter a league. That league, ingrained in Little League’s core value of integrity from the start, is now known as Delray Beach American Little League.
From the very beginning, the obstacles were constant. Opponents started to tell them fake rules about Little League in order to gain an advantage over them.
“They told us we couldn’t throw curveballs,” said Yvonne Odom, Vice President of Baseball for Delray Beach America LL. “But when the game started, they were throwing them to us.”
In the early years, many community members criticized the city for having two local leagues, one for the white community and one for the Black community. Yvonne, however, saw it differently. She viewed it as an opportunity for more kids to play baseball.
City officials and other members of the community did not think that the league would last very long, convinced that it would fizzle out.
“We are determined to keep our league going because we want our kids to be able to play baseball. It’s for the love of the game, that’s all,” said Yvonne.
Over time, Delray Beach American LL earned respect through persistence and performance, driven by the motto “every kid plays.” No matter the circumstances, the league wants every kid to have the opportunity to get on the field and be a part of the team.
Odom Jr.’s goal for the league at its founding was for young Black children to see older Black children playing baseball.
“I wanted them to have a place to call home, a place where they felt safe,” said Odom Jr.
That same mission continues today through programs like the “Early Birds,” where coaches come together to teach young players how to catch and throw, which is what Odom Jr. considers the most important part of the game.
When the league first started, many people did not want to go to Pompey Park, home of Delray Beach American LL, because of its location in the middle of the Black community.
Through Yvonne’s persistence, she argued that if a team won the district, the home league should host the district tournament. Once Delray Beach American LL began hosting tournaments, the visitors saw the quality of the park and were amazed at the hospitality they were provided.
As the league continues to grow and evolve, so have its community relationships. The league has even built a strong relationship with the Miami Marlins, taking the Little Leaguers® to a game each year.
“Creating friendships regardless of the color, which is something we have had to fight, and something we are continuing to do,” said Yvonne.
One of the league’s proudest traditions is its Opening Day, which marks the start of the season with special guests and a community celebration. Many notable guests have come to this event, such as former Miami Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, the Marlins’ mascot, Delray Beach American LL alumni, and even Yvonne’s granddaughter, Coco Gauff, who also used to call a game from time to time.
Yvonne says what continues to set the league apart from other organizations in their area is their community of dedicated volunteers. Many of the volunteer coaching staff grew up playing and the league and have returned to give back to the younger generation.
“Many league officers are only volunteering when their kids are participating in Little League,” said Yvonne. “In our league, we have coaches who have been with us for more than 20 years.”
For more than 50 years, Delray American Little League has remained committed to its founding principle — that every kid should have the opportunity to play baseball. Through every obstacle, victory, and change, the league continues to stand as a symbol of inclusion, perseverance, and a sense of belonging.
“At the beginning, we were not welcomed, but baseball has that way of uniting races,” said Yvonne. “We continue to operate because of the positive outcomes that baseball produces in the community.”
To learn more about the Little League program and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org.