Opening Day at San Quentin State Prison where every game is a home game. The lives and voices of men doing life at the country's most notorious penal institution.
I had the pleasure of playing in SQ this past weekend. We brought a group of guys (and 1 woman) down from Seattle. We created some 1st-furthest team, 4 game series (got to play Th-Sat), first woman on the field and our last game was schoolyard pick. Such an amazing experience, very humbling. Some of these guys are locked up due to making 1 poor choice, where coping skills were not used and now they are serving time. What a great program and so blessed to take part in it.Baseball gave these guys an opportunity to forget where they are and be treated like human beings. One of the best things was the fun bantering back and forth between players and other inmates watching the game. I can't wait to return.
I've played baseball my entire life, and had an opportunity to play against these guys. The prison let's teams from the Bay Area play them. It was hands the the greatest baseball experience of my life.
Excellent as usual Charlie. A very touching and thought provoking piece. It's difficult to watch this and see these guys as everyday good, talented and regular citizens one would welcome as your neighbor. Then reality kicks in and you realize these men caused horrific heartbreak on the victims family and friends.
Excellent work Charlie. My team played there this weekend and I spoke with several of the prisoners in your video. You perfectly captured the strange feeling of trying to separate the nice friendly ballplayers from the criminal they are, or hopefully were. Well done.
"The county forensic pathologist diagrams the extent of Lloyd Brown’s wounds: the base of his skull fractured in five places, his whole face caved in, his brain flooded with blood, his ribs broken, his liver lacerated, twenty-eight distinguishable wounds in all, thirteen of them deemed fatal."
Charlie you are amazing! Charlie for VP! You are the only reporter I respect in the industry. Keep doing what you do, you really dont understand the impact you have on us all!
I just completly understand how Charlie felt speaking and saying his good bye to the inmate at the end. I felt a distanciation as he was geting maybe too close to the inmates, also a fatigue of doing the whole reporting and wanting to get the hell out of the prison environment wich is totally understandable I feel their was a certain feeling of shame knowing we still lock people for life and watch them rot... their is other alternative, most of them have repented their sins grew wiser thanks to prison most of them are able to integrate society!!!
These poor people. I know, they have been judged for crimes against common decency...still, they are not put in to be reformed, rather just locked up to be away from "decent" humans for the rest of an uncertain eternity. "I don't want to see your face again at least until I die." Done. They are still human beings, capable of experiencing reality. This report helps spread the thought that people who perpetuate violent actions are not a danger to society "until death", and I support this notion 100%.
If I was ever in there doing time but umpiring and either a guard, inmate or warden or any other prison official lipped Me off, I would not be afraid to eject them from the game. WARDEN, THEY'RE NOT STRIKES OR BALLS UNLESS I SAY SO, WARDEN, HIT THE SHOWERS, YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!!!
This is what tax money is going towards? Funding criminals to have fun while they are serving time? There are schools out there that can't afford after school programs...
These criminal sinners are having a time of their life, what about the homeless people and the starving kids? This makes people wanna kill, this life they have is better then real life in hell.
Bard Archer You have no idea what prison is actually like in the case of 99.9% of inmates accused and convicted of murder or worse, child rape... This is for the 0.01% who feel true guilt and have shown a willingness to make up for their heinous sins through community service after release. In the meantime they play baseball, get closer to prison wardens, do nothing dangerous, feel like they don't want to riot. I think that works better than what we do with criminals in other US prisons, crowding them, beating them, and never treating them like humans... They feel an urge to go back to crime because even if you wanted to never kill again, the only guys who will pay you money are the pimps and drug dealers. They feel the urge to riot and kill the wardens, because they feel like the wardens and them are "different," and this perception of difference causes hate. Halfway through the reporter says, 98% of SQ baseball players who are released never come back.
THEY ARE IN PRISON FOR CRIMES. They shouldn't be playing baseball, they should be turning big rocks into smaller rocks and educating themselves for when they get out.
98% of those who get into the baseball program don't come back. When these people get released would you like them to integrate into society or go back to burglary and murder? Harsh conditions create hardened criminals.
This is one of the reasons you're my favorite reporter!
Rachel & Jun You are that one lady on the phone in that one guys video.
Rachel & Jun Was NOT expecting to see you here hahaha. Hi! Go make more videos!!!
Rachel & Jun china lcd is intensive, gg
Real people, real stories, no bullshit. Ace reporting Charlie, this is why you're the best.
Damn...i wish it was longer.. 👍👍
Wow kind of crazy to see a video portray inmates as humans and not monsters like other shows
The guy reciting McBeth was really well spoken, anyone else saw potential in his voice ?
Psychopaths are like that sometimes
Thank you Charlie,
You are a blessing to us all, best reporter in America.
Normally getting to third base in prison is a bad thing!
I had the pleasure of playing in SQ this past weekend. We brought a group of guys (and 1 woman) down from Seattle. We created some 1st-furthest team, 4 game series (got to play Th-Sat), first woman on the field and our last game was schoolyard pick. Such an amazing experience, very humbling. Some of these guys are locked up due to making 1 poor choice, where coping skills were not used and now they are serving time. What a great program and so blessed to take part in it.Baseball gave these guys an opportunity to forget where they are and be treated like human beings. One of the best things was the fun bantering back and forth between players and other inmates watching the game. I can't wait to return.
You're going all Johnny Cash on us lol
I've played baseball my entire life, and had an opportunity to play against these guys. The prison let's teams from the Bay Area play them.
It was hands the the greatest baseball experience of my life.
Excellent as usual Charlie.
A very touching and thought provoking piece.
It's difficult to watch this and see these guys as everyday good, talented and regular citizens one would welcome as your neighbor. Then reality kicks in and you realize these men caused horrific heartbreak on the victims family and friends.
Outstanding reporting, as always
Isn't kind of ironic when the inmate sings land of the free in the national anthem
You're free. But you're not free from consequences. Thses inmates know that have done wrong.
My new fav reporter! Great work showing a side to prison life we dont normally see. Very humbling and inspiring. Redemption is not easy.
Fantastic reporting by Charlie LeDuff.
Wow, that was great Charlie! I never knew about this, massive respect to you and those guys.
Where did this guy go? he’s so based. We need more vids.
That was...just really nice. You see people not what they were or are. Just people.
Excellent work Charlie. My team played there this weekend and I spoke with several of the prisoners in your video. You perfectly captured the strange feeling of trying to separate the nice friendly ballplayers from the criminal they are, or hopefully were. Well done.
Insane work!
This is a very productive way of learning self respect, self esteem and confidence for when release for an inmate happens.
"The county forensic pathologist diagrams the extent of Lloyd Brown’s wounds: the base of his skull fractured in five places, his whole face caved in, his brain flooded with blood, his ribs broken, his liver lacerated, twenty-eight distinguishable wounds in all, thirteen of them deemed fatal."
Coolest thing ever. Thanks Charlie.
Best reporter I've ever seen an watched
This is... something really different..!
Can you just run for President already?
great story charlie
Anyone interested in buying some San Quentin Giants baseball Jerseys... let me know... definitely great conversation generators....
Charlie you are amazing! Charlie for VP! You are the only reporter I respect in the industry. Keep doing what you do, you really dont understand the impact you have on us all!
I beleive people can change. This is cool.
Finally a damn real reporter!
I just completly understand how Charlie felt speaking and saying his good bye to the inmate at the end. I felt a distanciation as he was geting maybe too close to the inmates, also a fatigue of doing the whole reporting and wanting to get the hell out of the prison environment wich is totally understandable I feel their was a certain feeling of shame knowing we still lock people for life and watch them rot... their is other alternative, most of them have repented their sins grew wiser thanks to prison most of them are able to integrate society!!!
Charlie Leduff is bae
Should be a full hour Charlie is the best!!!
These poor people. I know, they have been judged for crimes against common decency...still, they are not put in to be reformed, rather just locked up to be away from "decent" humans for the rest of an uncertain eternity. "I don't want to see your face again at least until I die." Done. They are still human beings, capable of experiencing reality. This report helps spread the thought that people who perpetuate violent actions are not a danger to society "until death", and I support this notion 100%.
Get this man his own HBO show!
Charlie can relate to anyone, such a likeable non-judgemental guy
Long beach california HOLDIN IT DOWN LBC
Just goes to show you that people really can change.
lol the ending
Nice :)
Something ironic about an inmate singing land of the free.
LE REDDIT LEDUFF ARMY IS HERE!
My dad was there
He gave me and my brother a baseball signed by both teams
That’s sick
Y'all on the inside deserve some fun too.
everything charlie makes, i want to know more about the subject matter
Some,If not all don't deserve, nor need too be their any longer. I would hope !!
Bet the royals wouldn't mess with these teams.
Aww....a heartwarming story about the spirit of baseball and comradery. But, you know, with murderers and thieves.
If I was ever in there doing time but umpiring and either a guard, inmate or warden or any other prison official lipped Me off, I would not be afraid to eject them from the game. WARDEN, THEY'RE NOT STRIKES OR BALLS UNLESS I SAY SO, WARDEN, HIT THE SHOWERS, YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!!!
2:20 : Nigga had a single tear but no facial emotion lol
did that one guy just quote Demolition Man?
How many took a knee during the anthem?
2:20
xoxo
Life almost sounds more fun in prison... I have so many mixed feelings about this video.
if baseball had 4 strikes would ya get 4 chances?
hahahahahahahahaha
Hey I didn't Derek Jeters brother was doing hard time.. 5:15
And after he kicked the man to death dropped a 5 gallon water jug on his head and then crushed his skull to tiny pieces with a 40 pound wheel.
This is what tax money is going towards? Funding criminals to have fun while they are serving time? There are schools out there that can't afford after school programs...
These criminal sinners are having a time of their life, what about the homeless people and the starving kids? This makes people wanna kill, this life they have is better then real life in hell.
Bard Archer You have no idea what prison is actually like in the case of 99.9% of inmates accused and convicted of murder or worse, child rape... This is for the 0.01% who feel true guilt and have shown a willingness to make up for their heinous sins through community service after release. In the meantime they play baseball, get closer to prison wardens, do nothing dangerous, feel like they don't want to riot.
I think that works better than what we do with criminals in other US prisons, crowding them, beating them, and never treating them like humans... They feel an urge to go back to crime because even if you wanted to never kill again, the only guys who will pay you money are the pimps and drug dealers. They feel the urge to riot and kill the wardens, because they feel like the wardens and them are "different," and this perception of difference causes hate.
Halfway through the reporter says, 98% of SQ baseball players who are released never come back.
THEY ARE IN PRISON FOR CRIMES. They shouldn't be playing baseball, they should be turning big rocks into smaller rocks and educating themselves for when they get out.
This isn't afforded to the whole prison population, only those who demonstrate expected behaviors.
98% of those who get into the baseball program don't come back. When these people get released would you like them to integrate into society or go back to burglary and murder? Harsh conditions create hardened criminals.