THE BEGINNING
The Morehouse College baseball program was established in 1890, just 23 years after the college itself was founded. This makes Morehouse baseball one of the oldest collegiate baseball programs at a historically Black institution in the entire nation.
In those early decades, the Maroon Tigers quickly established themselves as a force on the diamond. The program's connection to the broader HBCU athletic movement deepened on December 30, 1913, when representatives from several institutions gathered at Morehouse College to form the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) — a conference that remains one of the most respected in Black collegiate athletics more than a century later.
Between 1917 and 1926, Morehouse captured seven SIAC baseball championships, establishing an early dynasty that set the standard for excellence in the conference.
SIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Early Era Championship Titles
In the modern era, the Maroon Tigers won six SIAC championships in seven years (approximately 2007-2013), continuing the program's championship tradition.
REVIVAL & RENEWAL
In the early 1980s, the baseball program was discontinued due to institutional budget constraints. Andre Lowe, a three-year starting shortstop and team captain, was among the last players before the program went dormant. He went on to sign with the Atlanta Braves minor league system.
The spirit of Morehouse baseball could not be silenced for long. In 1991, a group of dedicated students — led by Shermaine Jennings — founded the Morehouse Baseball Club, effectively reviving the program. Jennings would go on to lead the SIAC in ERA (3.63) in 1993 and earn team MVP honors in 1994 with a .391 batting average and 9 home runs.
Since its revival, the program has grown steadily, producing conference champions, All-Americans, and young men who carry the Morehouse legacy forward in every walk of life.
DEN OF HONOR
Inaugural Baseball Inductees (April 2025) — Honoring the outstanding contributions of former players who have significantly impacted Maroon Tiger baseball.
Donn Clendenon
Class of 1956
MLB First Baseman (1961-1972) | 1969 World Series MVP
The only former Maroon Tiger to reach the Major Leagues. Clendenon was a twelve-time letterman at Morehouse across football, basketball, and baseball. He earned the 1969 World Series MVP award while helping lead the legendary 'Miracle Mets' to an upset victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Martin Luther King Jr. served as his 'big brother' mentor at Morehouse. Inducted into the SIAC Hall of Fame in 2014.
Andre Pattillo
Class of 1979
Dual-Sport Athlete | Director of Athletics (2000-2019)
A dual-sport athlete in baseball and football, Pattillo dedicated nearly 40 years of service to Morehouse College. He served as assistant football coach, admissions counselor, director of admissions, and ultimately Director of Athletics. He coached the baseball team and earned the 2005 SIAC Coach of the Year honor.
Andre Lowe
Class of 1983
3-Year Starting Shortstop | Atlanta Braves Minor League System
Lowe started at shortstop for three years and served as team captain his junior year. When the baseball program was discontinued in the early 1980s, he signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves minor league system. He currently serves as the MEAC Coordinator of Football Officials.
Shermaine Jennings
Class of 1995
Founding Member of Morehouse Baseball Club (1991)
One of the founding members who helped revive Morehouse baseball in 1991. In 1993, he led the SIAC in ERA at 3.63. The following season, he was named team MVP after posting a .391 batting average with 9 home runs and ranked third nationally in Division II in strikeouts per nine innings (12.1 K/9).
Amyr Smith
Class of 2022
2015 SIAC Newcomer of the Year | Don Hanson All-American
Named the 2015 SIAC Newcomer of the Year and a Don Hanson All-American. After returning following the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith led the Maroon Tigers to the SIAC Tournament and broke the Morehouse stolen bases record.
HEAD COACHES
| Coach | Era | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basil B. Hall | Early Era | One of the earliest known head coaches of the program during the formative years. |
| Alan D. Fortson | Mid-Century | Led the program through a period of growth and development. |
| Andre Pattillo | ~2004 - 2007 | 2005 SIAC Coach of the Year. Dual-sport athlete and Morehouse Class of 1979. Later served as Director of Athletics (2000-2019). |
| Robert Mitchell | ~2008 - 2017 | Guided the Maroon Tigers through a sustained period of competitive play in the SIAC. |
| Antonio Grissom | 2018 - Present | Current head coach. Building a program focused on recruiting, player development, and community engagement. |
THE MODERN ERA
Under the leadership of Head Coach Antonio Grissom, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers continue to build on the program's championship legacy. The team competes in the SIAC at the NCAA Division II level, playing home games at Gresham Park in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
In 2025, the program reached new milestones. The inaugural Den of Honor induction ceremony celebrated five legendary figures in Morehouse baseball history. That same year, shortstop Elijah Pinckney (Class of 2027) made history as the first NCAA Division II player ever selected to participate in the prestigious HBCU Swingman Classic, further elevating the profile of Morehouse Baseball on the national stage. That same year, the Maroon Tigers competed in the inaugural Minority Baseball Prospects HBCU Final 4 tournament, showcasing the program's growing competitiveness and commitment to excellence.
The 2026 season features a roster built around a strong junior and senior core, with the Maroon Tigers competing for another SIAC championship and continuing to develop student-athletes who embody the Morehouse mission of leadership, service, and excellence.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Morehouse College baseball program is established, making it one of the oldest HBCU baseball programs in the nation.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) is founded at Morehouse College on December 30, 1913.
Morehouse wins its first SIAC Baseball Championship.
The Maroon Tigers capture seven SIAC baseball titles during this dominant early era (1917, 1918, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926).
Donn Clendenon enrolls at Morehouse College, where Martin Luther King Jr. volunteers to be his 'big brother' mentor.
Donn Clendenon makes his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 22, becoming the first and only Morehouse alumnus to reach the MLB.
Clendenon wins the World Series MVP award, hitting three home runs to help the 'Miracle Mets' defeat the Baltimore Orioles.
The baseball program is discontinued due to institutional budget constraints.
Baseball is revived at Morehouse as the 'Morehouse Baseball Club,' with Shermaine Jennings among the founding members.
Andre Pattillo earns SIAC Coach of the Year honors for baseball.
Morehouse baseball wins six SIAC championships in seven years during a dominant modern era.
Donn Clendenon is posthumously inducted into the SIAC Hall of Fame.
Amyr Smith is named SIAC Newcomer of the Year and a Don Hanson All-American.
Morehouse defeats Albany State 5-3 in the SIAC Baseball Championship Tournament.
Inaugural Den of Honor induction ceremony for baseball. Elijah Pinckney (Class of 2027) becomes the first NCAA Division II player selected for the HBCU Swingman Classic. Maroon Tigers compete in inaugural Minority Baseball Prospects HBCU Final 4 tournament.
The Maroon Tigers continue competing in the SIAC under Head Coach Antonio Grissom, building toward the future.
THE LEGACY CONTINUES
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