Freddie Tisdale Jr. Holds Annual Hitting Showcase

June 14, 2025 City Pride Magazine

by Charles Jackson Jr

Freddie Lee Tisdale Jr., a former player for the LA Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals, held his Annual Hitting Showcase at the All-Star Batting Cage in Bellflower. He was joined by several former MLB greats and more than 50 young athletes competing in the showcase. Each year, this event provides young baseball players with the opportunity to refine their batting skills in a competitive environment, where coaches both score their performance and offer advice on techniques.

Kenny Landreaux, Dayle Campbell and Freddie Tisdale Jr. stand together and present trophies to the young hitters.

Tisdale has been a significant contributor to RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City). This program offers young people from underserved communities the opportunity to participate in baseball and softball. He worked alongside his former teammate from the St. Louis Cardinals, the late John Young.

When reflecting on his own experiences growing up in the game of baseball, Tisdale has much to share. “I grew up on 121st St. in Compton and attended Mona Park Elementary School, which was renamed Martin Luther King Elementary in 1968, following the assassination of Dr. King. At the age of 5, I picked up my first bat, and my father, Freddie Lee Tisdale Sr., threw me my first pitch. I hit the ball into the street, over the fence at our home, and I heard my father tell his friend that my son would one day be a baseball player. My journey began at Martin Luther King Elementary School, where I won my first championship in 1971, and continued at Ralph Bunch Junior High School. I was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round in 1974 as a shortstop, although I played first base. I was versatile at every position because, in our neighborhood, if you couldn’t play everywhere, you weren’t considered an athlete.”

Kenny Landreaux joined Tisdale to celebrate the winners of the Hitting Showcase. The children had the chance to pose for photos with Landreaux, Tisdale, and their trophies. Parents beamed with pride as they captured this memorable event. Landreaux, a native of Compton, had an impressive baseball career. He was drafted in the first round by the California Angels in 1976, where he played for three years before being traded to the Minnesota Twins for two years. He later returned to the Los Angeles to play with the LA Dodgers for eight years.

The Freddie Tisdale Hitting Showcase brought together young baseball players and seasoned professionals for a day of learning and skill development. These former players aim to give back to the community, sharing their knowledge and love for the game. They provide training and resources, while also ensuring that young people have opportunities to grow up in a safe and enjoyable environment. Tisdale, Landreaux, Campbell, and all the coaches emphasize the need for city leaders to invest more in providing ballparks and recreation centers. Such facilities offer young people with opportunities to learn, play, and form lasting friendships. They had the historic Jackie Robinson Stadium in Gonzales Park to play and learn the game. The hope is that city leaders and schools will offer more activities at venues like the new Jackie Robinson Stadium so that children can grow up safe and healthy.