Comedian W. Kamau Bell experienced a baseball game on San Quentin’s Field of Dreams between the A’s and the visiting Cubs.
“I never seen a baseball game in prison; I’ve never seen a bird in prison, I’ve never been to prison,” said Bell.
He credits a willingness to give up his sneakers to not becoming one of the three Black men who, statistically, are, or were, incarcerated.
A medical code ended the game after the third inning, keeping the exciting scrimmage from being counted in the record books but not off Bell’s bucket list.
Seeing a baseball game was on Bell’s to-do list as part of understanding what it’s like to be in prison and the rehabilitative things going on at San Quentin. It’s for an upcoming new CNN-TV series called United Shades of America. It’s due to air in early 2016.
The April 22 baseball game was shaping up to be good. Gary “Cool Aid” Townes started as pitcher for the A’s.
The Cubs had professional pitcher Dan Rogers, who plays for the San Rafael Pacifics baseball team. Rogers says he has played professional baseball in Canada, Australia and Switzerland.
“I just love playing; I don’t care where,” said Rogers. “Everyone here has a passion, and there is never a dull moment. Whether the score is up or down, everybody’s into the game.”
In the first inning, Bell watched Cub Brendan Holsberry single and steal second. However, the A’s made it out of the inning without giving up any runs.
A’s Cleo Cloman got an infield hit, beating the throw to first. When Rogers didn’t get the ball he barehanded off in time. However, Cloman was tagged out at second when Anthony Denard hit the ball, but it forced Cloman right into the defense. The inning ended on a popup hit by Rose Royce.
At a practice before the game, Bell met Cloman and discussed baseball. Cloman told Bell, “I should have never cheated on baseball with the streets.” Had he stayed loyal to baseball, it could have taken him someplace much further than prison. He is now one of the top baseball players in San Quentin and ponders “What if.”
The game remained scoreless until the third inning.
The Cub batter singled. Then Patrick singled in Jim Cullen, making the score 2-0.
Isaiah “Raheem” Thompson-Bonilla cut short a conversation with Bell to warm up. He replaced Townes on the mound.
An alarm blared, accompanied by orders for “all inmates” to “get down.” All prisoners complied. After 25 minutes, the alarm still wasn’t clear. Bell spent that time hanging out in the A’s dugout, cracking jokes with the equipment manager, Kevin Lee.
“I met many people who I would be fine with if this person lived next door to me,” said Bell.
Ten minutes later Bell and his film crew were escorted out of the prison, while all inmates remained on the ground.
“I never thought I would be sad to leave prison,” said Bell. “I’m sure we missed a lot of good stories.”
At about 8 p.m., all inmates were sent back to their cells, ending the game. At 7:37 p.m., Death Row inmate Raymond Edward Steele, 67, was found unresponsive in his cell, according to a CDCR press release.
“The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy,” the press release said.
The game didn’t count because, “The visiting team has to have their bats after five innings,” said the A’s manager and sponsor, Steve Reichardt.
Accompanying Bell were the producers and crew of United Shades of America. They included: Executive Producer Star Price, Producer Angela Borg, Co-producer Alex Walton, Line Producer Bryan Ayvey, Audio Supervisor Hunter Sanders, Digital Imaging Technician Jared Washburn, Production Coordinator Jenna Lynn Sasso, Director of Photography Patrick Higgins and Assistant Cameraman Thomas Francis Patrick O’Meara IV.