A celebration long in the making
Sixty-four years is a long time to wait for a victory lap. This week in Atlanta, members of the Simpson Road Trojans — an exceptional Little League squad from the early 1960s — finally got a public nod for what they were denied back in 1962. The moment was equal parts emotional hometown reunion and overdue justice served with a side of high-fives.
The 1962 turn of events
Back in 1962 the Trojans earned the rare honor of being invited to the Little League World Series as the first all-Black team from Georgia. But their ticket to the big stage was ripped up after allegations that one player was too old. That accusation was later shown to be baseless, but the damage had already been done: the team missed their chance to compete on the national field.
Obstacles, grit and perspective
The adults who were there then still remember how much the kids loved the game — and how much the kids had to push through. Coach Larry Morrow recalls forces that tried to keep the team down, and people involved with the new documentary say the Trojans’ success made them a target during an ugly era of segregation. The unfairness stung, but it didn’t erase what those kids accomplished on the diamond.
A city honors its heroes
This week, eight surviving players, their coach, and family members gathered at Atlanta City Hall to accept a formal proclamation organized by City Councilman Byron Amos. The recognition wasn’t a reversal of 1962, but it was a public acknowledgment that the team’s story belongs in the city’s history — and that the Trojans haven’t been forgotten.
From clubhouse to camera
The team’s story is being preserved in a new documentary produced by people connected to the team. One of the producers, who grew up with the story, said the players were kids first and athletes second — and that their resilience is what stands out decades later. For the players themselves, the honor was a validation of years of quiet pride.
Legacy and laughter
For Levi Miller, the Trojans’ former third baseman, the recognition was deeply meaningful — a blessing on the memories they built together. Now with a film and a city proclamation, the Trojans’ tale can inspire younger players who might one day face obstacles of their own. It’s a reminder that sometimes history takes its time, but when it shows up, it brings the confetti.
