Brooklyn Little League - Founder's Story

My name is John H. Boyd III. I am a 3rd Generation community activist and Ball Player. My love for the game was sparked by my dad. There is nothing like someone taking you by the hand and teaching you something new, especially when you start to get the hang of it. That feeling is what has driven me to coaching and mentorship till this very day. I was taught by my grandfather it's always better to teach someone how to fish rather than giving them fish when they need it. The point was not to make someone dependent on me, but to bare my fruit by cultivating the skillset in others and using the gifts GOD has given me.

So, here I stand many moons later doing the same thing my grandfather and dad taught me.

Growing up in my house Baseball was a way of life. My greatest memories are riding in the car with my dad, brother and sister on our way to the batting cage for practice.

I am married to my amazing Rockstar of a wife Djuana and have the honor of being the father of our little Queens, Blake and Gianni. We also have a dog named, Grey. 

I was a standout High School starting catcher, an All-Conference and All District player for my High School, and hit B.A. 718 as a senior which took my team to their third consecutive championship. I was an All-American for the Baseball Factory, where I was asked to join the Baseball Factory’s Jr. Olympic Team and  toured Italy for the summer as a senior in H.S. I was then heavily sought after by the Tampa Bay Rays. Out of H.S., I played Division I Baseball at Hofstra University and finished my college career at Norfolk State University where I was named National Black College player of the week on numerous occasions. I was also named 1st Team All-MEAC while playing at NSU. In my final season with the Spartans, I was named MVP of the year.

After my college career, I became a college coach at the Queens Borough Community College and the University of South Carolina Beaufort as the Asst. Hitting Coach and Catching Coordinator. At USCB I was under the tutelage of Head Coach Rick Sofield who played in the Major Leagues with Minnesota Twins and Coached the Colorado Sox. Rick Sofield is currently the Third Base Coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I was able to take all of the information I received under Coach Sofield’s teachings and formulate it for young athletes in a way they can learn the game like the pros. I'm also a scout and instructor with the Baseball Factory which is the largest High School Baseball recruiting firm in the Country.

I believe in the development of kids, in order to keep the prestige of the game of Baseball. "It's all about quality verses quantity." I have a passion to teach kids the true way to play and respect the game of Baseball as well as their communities.

At this stage in my life, I look to impact someone every day. I believe that as a Human Race we need to live for each other and not only for ourselves. So, I live by this mantra "Die Empty". Whatever gifts GOD has given you gift it to the world; give it up. Don't leave here not being a blessing to someone else while leaving your grave filled with so much untapped potential that could have changed the World. So, Lets die empty!!!