Banneker City Little League

OUR EVOLVING STORY...

Our Mission

Banneker City’s mission is to help children learn healthy competition, sportsmanship, work ethic, teamwork, conditioning and muscle-memory fundamentals through our national pastime and provide a progressive continuum of that education from Tee-Ball (age 4) all the way up through Prep (age 16), in a healthy, safe and encouraging baseball culture.

2023 Banneker City AA Pirates

The Origin of Banneker City

Banneker City's First Registrant

One afternoon in 2010, a father and son were traveling across town—miles from home—to attend an 8U baseball practice. As they passed a long-dormant baseball diamond, the son asked a simple but powerful question: “Why can’t we play at Banneker Field?”

The field had not hosted baseball programming in more than a decade (READ MORE HERE). The father thought for a minute and replied: “That's a good question.”

With that spark, Howard University alumni Supreme H. Aquil and Will F. Ticer set out to create a place where children could play and learn baseball in their own community.

Banneker City was born in 2010 with just two teams—and within a year, it blossomed into more than a dozen.

Honoring Legacy and History

Banneker City proudly honors Jackie Robinson, whose legacy holds personal meaning for the league. Robinson was a member of the founder’s grandfather’s Cub Scout Troop in Pasadena, California. As such, Banneker City is steeped in Dodger lore and celebrates Robinson’s historic role in integrating Major League Baseball when the Dodgers signed him from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues in 1945.

The league takes its name from Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 19, 1806), the brilliant architect and astronomer who helped finalize the original designs of Washington, DC in 1791.

With both a name and a mission rooted in history, Banneker City set out to trailblaze youth baseball in the nation’s capital.

Leadership in Little League Baseball

DC District-1

In 2012, Banneker City Little League formed the first Little League Maryland District-3 Board, which later became Washington, DC District-1, serving all Little Leagues in the District.

Banneker City’s Umpire-in-Chief was elected District Administrator
Little League International sanctioned Banneker City’s Secretary, Treasurer, and Information Officer to serve in dual roles on the newly formed District board
They became the founding, executive members of the Washington, DC District-1 Board

The six (6) DC Little League Presidents became official members, and the DC District-1 Board was born. The DC District-1 Board immediately re-drew and updated each DC Little League’s boundary maps, which settled all of the previous territorial disputes between the DC Little Leagues. In 2014, the District Board and Banneker City Little League hosted the first-and-only Little League Road Show in Washington, DC, drawing little leagues from as far away as Connecticut and Massachusetts. Since the formation of the DC District-1 Board, the number of Little League programs in the District has increased from six to eight. The District Board oversees the affairs of the DC Little Leagues, including conducting the Little League Tournaments, and now boasts members from all of the little leagues in Washington, DC.

Celebrating Community the Right Way

Banneker City Volunteer, 2012

Banneker City Volunteer, 2021

In the summer of 2012, Banneker City hosted the AAA District Tournament at Banneker Upper Field—the first time in more than 20 years that a district tournament was held outside of Fort Lincoln Park. Complete with concessions, music, and fanfare, the event set a new standard for celebrating youth baseball in DC. Thereafter, fellow DC little leagues followed suit and began to host Little League District Tournaments at their fields, extending tremendous hospitality to their DC Little League guests. Now, every summer, Little League baseball tournament games can be seen on diamonds all over the city of Washington DC.

2015 Intermediate DC District Champions

Banneker City Launches The Nats Player Visit Program

In 2015, Banneker City met with the Washington Nationals to discuss a plan to have the Washington National players visit the DC Little Leagues and its little league players at their home fields—this launched the Nats Player Visit Program, which brought MLB players and figures—including Anthony Rendon, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Dusty Baker, Gio González, and Jayson Werth to the little league programs and fields of Washington, DC.

Gio Gonzalez, Wilson Ramos, José Lobatón, Anthony Rendon, and Michael A. Taylor at Banneker City.

Revitalizing K. C. Lewis Park

In 2018, Banneker City’s 8-year historical usage of a field for our Tee-Ball program was reappropriated to adult kickball programming. With our toddlers’ program displaced, Banneker City was offered the highly-available K. C. Lewis Park as an alternative–a baseball field that had not been used in over 20 years. With only 4 weeks before the Spring 2018 season was to begin, Banneker City fully embraced the proffered, Hobson's Choice and immediately went to work on the neglected park to make the field playable and the park safe for our kids.

Banneker City embraced the challenge and accomplished its goal. In less than 4 weeks, the league:

Installed new bases
Added 32 tons of infield dirt
Repaired the dilapidated dugouts, fences, and power shed
Built a two-lane batting cage
Added storage containers for league equipment

A forgotten park in our community was transformed and beautified by its citizens and returned to life by the laughter of Banneker City children and families. Today, hundreds of children practice, train, and play each week at the revitalized K. C. Lewis Park.

Safety and Character While Delivering Service Leads to Scholarship

In 2021, Banneker City hosted the inaugural Sameer Glazerman College Scholarship Dinner at Fogo de Chao.

The Sameer Glazerman College Scholarship is a $2,500 collegiate scholarship that Banneker City awards annually to its college-bound, high school seniors. It honors former Banneker City players that demonstrate exemplary character under pressure.

Sameer, one of the league’s first players, returned years later as a volunteer umpire. During a hostile game, he diffused an escalating situation with grace by reminding adults to model respect in front of children. His composure restored order and ensured the game—and the children—remained safe.

In recognition of such leadership, the Sameer Glazerman Scholarship was formally established in 2022.

Recipients of the Sameer Glazerman Scholarship:

2022 — Sameer Glazerman, University of Maryland
2023 — Saul Villatoro, George Mason University
2024 — William Walker, Morehouse College
2025 — Alex McCuaig, University of Wisconsin
2026 — ???

Banneker City Wins the Little League Regional and National Safety Plan of the Year Awards

Banneker City volunteers Rob Mandle and Will Ticer with the regional and national ASAP Safety Awards, in Williamsport, PA, Summer 2022.

In the summer of 2022, Banneker City was awarded the ASAP Regional AND National Safety Plan Of The Year Awards by Little League International (READ MORE HERE). For earning the National award, Banneker City won $150,000.00 in lighting equipment from Musco Lighting for Banneker Upper Field.

Banneker City father-and-son hoists the LL East Region & National Banner, Williamsport, PA, Summer 2022

The Foundation of The Banneker Upper Field Project

With this lighting equipment, Banneker City is planning to make Banneker Upper Field the best little league field in DC, with additional renovations, including lights, scoreboard, bathrooms, press box, concession stand, stadium seating, upgraded dugouts, and landscaping.

Lights & beautification: The Bannker Upper Field Project

Remembering Our Heroes

Latrell "Bam" Martin at Bannker Upper Field, Spring 2016

Latrell “Bam” Martin a.k.a. “The big kid with the big smile.” (April 2, 2005 – June 27, 2016)

Bam & Nats Wilson Ramos

Latrell was a great kid who was a joy to work with, and relished being in a leadership role. He played on Banneker City’s 2015 10U Tournament Team, and was well-loved by his teammates and coaches. Latrell got the nickname “Bam,” as a toddler singing the chorus of the Onyx’s song, Slam, with his grandfather, Papa. The infectious chorus goes, “Slam! Let the boys be boys!” However, Latrell would sing, “Bam! Let the boys be boys!” Needless to say, it stuck. Latrell “Bam” Martin, a Banneker City hero remembered.

Ceph “Bullet Train” Christie (December 6, 2004 – August 5, 2022)

Spring 2022

Ceph, a former DC little league prodigy, was a standout high school catcher and a Division-1 college baseball commit. In his spare time, he volunteered his time and expertise teaching Banneker City Majors division kids those same skills and work ethic that garnered him collegiate and MLB suitors. “He was a supercool coach,” reflected one of his Banneker City players. Ceph was supercool and super fast. He earned the nickname “Bullet Train” because of his speed and production on the bases (baseball tracks). Ceph “Bullet Train” Christie, a Banneker City hero remembered.

Maury “Sonny” Wills (October 2, 1932 – September 19, 2022)

Maury “Sonny” Wills was a proud son of DC and considered by many to be the best baseball player to emerge from the District. He spent his entire MLB career with the Dodgers, including winning the NL MVP in 1962, after stealing a then-record 104 bases.

In 2022, Banneker City began hosting the Maury Wills Tournament & Fish-Fry annually over the Columbus Day weekend. High schoolers, many former Banneker City players, and their families enjoy free food, reunions, and high school baseball. Maury “Sonny” Wills, a Banneker City hero remembered.

2023 Maury Wills Fall Classic

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT…

Banneker City will continue to trailblaze the path of delivering quality, affordable baseball programming to the kids of Washington, DC (Banneker City). Join in on the fun and help us take Banneker City (Washington, DC) to new heights.