Often labeled as America’s pastime, baseball has been a tradition that connects to many people on a personal level. That’s the case for Greg White, who has always had a vision to have the sport create an imprint on Northwest Indiana.
Born in East Chicago, White is the youngest sibling of three. He would eventually bounce around to other places such as Gary and Hammond. In 2007, he graduated from Hammond High School. From there, he attended Grambling State University and Kentucky State University, spending two years at each. He played baseball at both universities.
Baseball has always been a presence in White’s biggest ambitions. White acknowledges that there hasn’t been that many baseball clinics in Northwest Indiana, and he wanted to be the person to start it up in the area.
“Living in Indiana, it’s primarily a basketball state,” White said. “When I was 16 years old, I sat down with Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. so we could remap everything on the field and work on fixing up the fields.”
They started up the first annual baseball and softball clinic in 2013. White’s staff also consists of people that played baseball or softball alongside him throughout high school, travel ball and college.
“While some of the staff is local, others come from all over,” White said. “This year, we had coaches coming in from Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Washington D.C. Some of these folks have never even been to Indiana.”
The clinic focuses on teaching children the fundamentals of the game. Following that, the kids get a lunch break before the second half of the camp begins. The coaches also spend some time mentoring the children as they all come from different walks of life.
White’s point of emphasis in working with the clinic is to ensure that every kid gets the full experience without any limitations.
“There were times growing up when I had the talent to make the travel team but not the finances,” White said. “I don’t want it to be a hindrance for the children that can’t afford what they’re exposed to. That’s why our clinic is free. We’re just trying to set a good example and make a difference in the community.”
Motivation is another quality that pushes White in not only getting the clinic to where it is today but also off the field. He aspires to help the people that he works with by sharing several messages with them to move forward.
“The most important thing, speaking from my own experience, is to never forget where you came from and to go after your dreams,” White said. “Some people might not understand it, but that doesn’t matter as long as you believe in it yourself.”
The clinic also provides many opportunities for the kids to win raffle prizes. This includes bikes, scooters and school supplies. Additionally, the clinic this year was able to give out their second scholarship in 10 years.
“We’re always rooting for everyone that comes to our clinic,” White said. “They’re the next generation that might be helping me run this one day or even start their own clinics. Before you know it, we’ll have everybody talking about all the great baseball and softball players that we have in the area.”