In the early 1960s, the children of Milwaukee’s inner city had few safe or welcoming places to play baseball. Public diamonds were often reserved for adult leagues, leaving young players without a field of their own. In 1963, a small group of determined kids turned to Reverend E.B. Phillips of Greater Galilee Baptist Church for help. Reverend Phillips reached out to a congregation member and former Negro League ballplayer, James Beckum, who shared their dream of bringing organized baseball to local youth.
With Reverend Phillips’s encouragement, Mr. Beckum began his youth baseball journey — fueled by passion, leadership, and community vision. After consulting with the YMCA and Milwaukee Public Schools’ Yesterday League, he aligned with Little League Baseball, giving local players a chance to compete on a national stage. The idea ignited excitement across Milwaukee’s north side, transforming a few borrowed diamonds into a movement for opportunity and inclusion.
In 1964, four Milwaukee churches — Greater Galilee Baptist, New Hope Baptist, Incarnation Lutheran, and St. Mark’s AME — sponsored the first Beckum teams. A year later, the league gained its first official charter from Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and added a new division named after Beckum’s former manager and friend, Chuck Stapleton, who volunteered as the league’s safety officer. Together, the Beckum and Stapleton leagues laid the foundation for what would become one of Milwaukee’s most enduring youth institutions.
Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, the league expanded rapidly. New sponsors like Metropolitan Baptist Church and the Milwaukee Barbershop Association joined the cause, while additional teams formed under the Parmalee League. By the 1980s, Beckum-Stapleton offered programs for every age group—from Tee Ball to Big League—serving hundreds of players each summer. Competitive tournament teams became a source of pride and visibility for the community, earning multiple district and state championships and appearances in regional tournaments across the Midwest.
Originally, games were held at parks and schools throughout Milwaukee’s north side, including Auer Avenue, Lincoln, and Washington Parks. With the support of County Supervisor Clinton Rose, the league eventually found its permanent home at Carver Park, a facility that has grown over time into one of the city’s most vibrant youth sports complexes. The opening of the James W. Beckum Indoor Training Facility in 2002 further strengthened the league’s ability to provide year-round development, safety, and skill-building opportunities.
Behind every successful season stands an army of volunteers, mentors, and community partners. The Beckum-Stapleton Women’s Auxiliary, under the longtime leadership of Mrs. Naomi Walker, has organized annual picnics, award banquets, registration drives, and fundraisers for decades — setting the gold standard for grassroots engagement in Milwaukee youth sports.
The league’s leadership and stewardship have passed through generations, guided by dedicated presidents including James Beckum, Gary Henning, Henry Small, George Slade, Jerry Beckum, Billy Prince, Lafayette Golden, and, since 1998, Jim Brey. Their shared commitment has sustained a culture of service, accountability, and youth empowerment for more than six decades.
Yet, the true legacy of Beckum-Stapleton lies in its players. Over 25,000 young athletes have learned not just the game of baseball, but the values of discipline, teamwork, confidence, and resilience. Many have gone on to become educators, coaches, public servants, business leaders, and professional athletes — living proof of Mr. Beckum’s belief that baseball could be a pathway to character, leadership, and opportunity.
Though James Beckum passed in 2023, his spirit of mentorship and community unity continues to shape every inning played at Carver Park. The Beckum-Stapleton Little League stands today not just as a sports program, but as a living symbol of Milwaukee’s hope, heritage, and commitment to the next generation.