BMORENews.com and the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards will recognize longtime James Mosher Baseball President William Neal on June 4, 2026, for decades of mentorship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to Baltimore’s youth.
(WOODLAWN 0 May 21, 2026) – Some people become fixtures in a community. Not because they sought attention. Not because they chased applause. But because year after year, decade after decade, they simply showed up.
Mr. William Neal is one of those men.
For many of us who grew up in West Baltimore, James Mosher Baseball was more than a league. It was structure. It was discipline. It was pride. It was family. And through it all, there was Mr. Neal — steady, committed, and present.
It is our distinct pleasure to honor William Neal, president of James Mosher Baseball, during Black Wall Street WOODLAWN on June 4, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 6665 Security Boulevard.
RSVP to blackwallstreetwoodlawn.eventbrite.com.
James Mosher Baseball is recognized as Maryland’s oldest continuously operating Black American little league and is believed to be among the longest-running organizations of its kind in the nation. For generations, it has provided young people with far more than baseball. It has provided life lessons, mentorship, accountability, and hope.
Mr. Neal has dedicated more than four decades of his life to the organization. Long before youth sports became big business, men like him were volunteering their evenings, weekends, and summers to keep children focused, safe, and inspired.
I know personally.
As a boy growing up near Easterwood Park, James Mosher Baseball was a major part of my life. I remember the practices. I remember riding the bench for years and learning that nothing was given — you earned your spot. I remember the smell of brand-new baseballs on game day, something every ballplayer understands instantly. I remember playing catch in Easterwood.
And I remember the men.
Mr. Neal. Mr. Turner. Mr. Hughes. Mr. Meacham Sr. and Jr. Mr. White. Mr. Harrod. John Carrington.
These men helped raise generations of Black youth in Baltimore.
They taught us teamwork, patience, resilience, and respect. They gave their time freely when they could have been doing anything else. Their investment kept countless young people grounded and gave many of us memories we still carry today.
Under William Neal’s leadership, James Mosher Baseball continued a legacy that stretches nearly 70 years. The organization also became part of the Orioles’ RBI initiative, helping inner-city youth stay engaged through baseball and softball while emphasizing education and community responsibility.
But beyond the accolades and recognition, this honor is about gratitude.
So let this moment say clearly:
Thank you, Mr. Neal.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for pouring into Black children for decades.
Thank you for preserving a tradition that shaped lives throughout Baltimore.
And thank you for helping save lives through baseball.
We are honored to honor you.
