COSTA MESA-- February 2026 marks several major milestones for Black History Month in the United States. It denotes the centennial anniversary of Negro History Week in 1926, the country's first step toward acknowledging its roots in black culture, placed in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.
 
The country's next leap forward came 50 years ago, when United States President Gerald Ford worked with the Association for the Study of African Life and History (ASALH) to expand the recognition from a week to a month. President Ford's groundbreaking message to Americans to "recognize the important contribution made to our nation's life and culture by black citizens" came to fruition a decade later on February 11, 1986, when Congress officially passed Public Law 99-244, designating February as "National Black History Month," offering a time to honor Black history and its fibers found in American culture.
 
Now on the 40th anniversary of that law, one Vanguard student-athlete, Chase Easter-Hairston, is utilizing this year to pull back the curtain on his own family history, offering a window into another story of Black History.
 
The fourth-year outfielder with Vanguard baseball hails from Maple Valley, a town in Washington which registered a population of around 28,500 as of 2024. He comes from a family chock-full with athletes, with his father and grandfather both playing college basketball at St. Martin's University (currently: NCAA D-II, GNAC), while Easter-Hairston himself was a three-sport athlete growing up.
 
However, Chase and his family have a deep connection to the diamond.
 
Chase's great-grandfather, "Luscious" Luke Easter, was a trailblazer for baseball. A native of Jonestown, Mississippi, Easter was one of the first players to follow in the wake of Jackie Robinson to help the fight against segregation in the sports world as he signed with the Cleveland Indians a year after Robinson's debut, which came after successful seasons in the Negro League.
 
"Hearing about my great-grandfather as a kid was always inspiring, and I think that kind of drew me nearer to the sport," shared Chase.
 
Easter was a 6'4", 240lb first-baseman and made his major-league debut with the Cleveland Indians in August 1949. Despite being in his mid-30s at the time, Luke Easter made a tremendous impact for the team, as the lefty-hitter hit 28 home runs with 107 RBI in 1950. He followed that up with 27HR/103RBI in 1951 and 31HR/97RBI in 1952. The 1951 season earned him the honor of being named the AL Player of the Year by Sporting News, while Easter's 31 homers in 1952 were one shy of fellow trailblazer and teammate Larry Doby for the most in the American League that season.
 
The Society for American Baseball Research, as well as other historical archives, have not been shy in pointing out that the towering figure was not barely leaking his hits over the wall-- he had power. While still being restricted to the Negro Leagues, Easter easily went yard for the Cincinnati Crescents… dead center at the Polo Grounds in New York. Teammates allege the ball traveled about 500 feet, well past the 480 wall that stood guard as part of the deep and strange dimensions the Polo Grounds required at that part of the stadium. He also is said to have the longest home run ever hit in the now defunct Cleveland Municipal Stadium history. The 477-foot moonshot came on a 3-0 pitch that cleared the scoreboard in right-field, aiding him in a 6-RBI effort on June 23, 1950. These are just two examples of the "bazooka-blast" talent that Easter had, as the radio announcer at the time, Jack Graney, gave as part of his alliterative call on the home runs.
 
Though Easter's star burned bright, it did not burn long in the majors, as his dominant time was cut short due to chronic knee and ankle injuries.  Despite Cleveland dropping him after only six games in 1954, the then 40-year-old would not be deterred. He would go down to Triple-A for the Buffalo Bisons, where the elder statesman became the first black player for the farm team since 1888. "Luscious" dominated there, holding the honor as the only player to ever clear the scoreboard in center field with a home run at the old Offerman Stadium (which he did twice in 1957). Over his 3-plus seasons with the 'Herd', Easter hit 114 HR, with 40 of them coming in 1957 alone, en route to being the MVP of Triple-A.
 
Though Cooperstown has not called his name (primarily due to lack of time to build a longer resumé), his work earned him the honor of being recognized into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball HOF on July 18, 1985. The Bisons also retired his #25, making him one of three players in the organization's 130-year history to have that honor.
 
Beyond the statistical success on the field, Easter was also lauded for his friendly disposition and generosity: a true testament to his character given the hostile environments and backlash he faced during the bigotry of the Jim Crow era, especially on his teams' road trips to the South. His character also had a patriotic flavor, as he served his country in the U.S. Army beginning in 1942, despite the same nation's laws allowing him to be mistreated simply due to the color of his skin.
 
Now, Chase looks to honor that name with a great cause.
 
This year's Opening Day of the NCAA Division-II college baseball season was different for Easter-Hairston, as it coincided with the launch of the Luke Easter Foundation.
 
"To me, Luke's legacy is using your God-given abilities to overcome adversity and make headway in whatever aspect of life you are in," said Chase.
 
The foundation looks to do just that, along with bringing recognition to the torch bearer, who accomplished much in life and sport. In particular, the organization seeks to empower Black youth and student-athletes alike with opportunities that would foster excellence in both athletics and academics. While it has a broad vision, the Easter-Hairston family have a targeted beginning in mind.
 
"To start, it is designed to give Black kids the resources to be able to play baseball," remarked Chase. Vanguard's outfielder was sure to point out how expensive even youth baseball has become, noting travel ball fees, cleats, equipment, and even small details like paying for food on the roadtrips as barriers that prevent black youth from gaining entry into the sport in modern times. Chase even highlights the relatable image of a child's single parent having to decide between paying for a $50 basketball or a $500 bat plus other expenses. The choice is not really a choice.
 
"Travel ball has taken over youth sports so much, where it has become such a money grab, even at a young age. It makes it hard for African-American kids to get into baseball and even give it a chance. They are being weeded out before they even get the chance to see whether they like it or not. That is where the organization comes in," reflected Chase, who serves as the organization's vice president.
 
What the Easter-Hairston family is observing on a micro-scale simply reflects what USA Today highlighted a mere three years ago. Bob Nightengale of the outlet reported at the time that the MLB's Black demographic among players was down to just 6.1%—the lowest since 1955 when Jim Crow laws were still in effect.
 
Now, Easter-Hairston and his family are seeking to do their part to ensure that lack of opportunity does not contribute to that data anymore. They brought in Rick Pitts of the Seattle area to serve on the nonprofit's board, with his experience through Baseball Beyond Borders being a big reason. BBB works with inner-city children to give them a baseball team and experience that is more affordable.
 
"We want more representation, and we want to make the opportunity to play the sport possible through this foundation," stated Chase, emphasizing that widening access will "raise competitiveness," thus improving ballclub performance, which is obviously "better for baseball all around."
 
This has been an arduous process for the Easter-Hairston family, as the year-long endeavor working with government officials to get the non-profit from an idea to its recent launch required tedious work. For that, Chase is grateful for his girlfriend, Chloe McLeroy (a member of Vanguard Dance), who did not have a stake in the matter.
 
"It is just great that Coco has been so eager to help me and my parents. It just shows the level of commitment we have had. She did not have to help with any of this. We are not getting paid. It is just out of pure love."
 
It is also personal for Chase in the sense that he himself is a mixed-child; White and Black. The balancing act of his family's history, what the foundation aspires for future generations, and his own present racial battles he has to face is certainly difficult.
 
"I have had my fair share of microaggressions towards me," admitted Chase, stating that he also feels an internal battle between two compartmentalized identities that is accentuated by external catalysts.
 
"For example, people will say polarizing statements. They go from: 'oh you don't look black', to 'of course your fast.'
 
Then, the biggest thing is when they don't know I am around, or that I am black, and they say, 'sorry I did not know you were here/black'. That is arguably a bigger issue because you just admitted to me that you do it when I am not around, so you're being fake to me."
 
While Chase acknowledges that this is unfortunate, he can only imagine what his great-grandfather had to endure while playing during the 1950s in a segregated America. What is more, of course, is how "Luscious" Easter handled it with tremendous grace. That is something that Chase looks to embody now.
 
"I used to be pretty defensive and hardnosed when those things happened," said Chase. "But I have learned that whatever I say in response won't change people. I just choose to let Christ take over and love them. I don't forget it, but I try to forgive the same way that Christ forgives us."
 
Why is Chase sharing this? Because he believes that ignorance is the greatest threat to resolution, and sharing information evaporates the ignorance claim.
 
"I try to open their eyes more in lieu of forcing them to change. I just want them to see that there are other situations at hand. I think that is how I have been productive. This way ignorance cannot be claimed. That is my goal: eliminate ignorance by making them aware that is not okay."
 
Which is exactly why the government confirmed Black History Month and affirmed President Ford's message: sharing information so that everyone is aware of what has happened and why it was wrong, so that we, as a Body of Christ, can move towards a better future. A future without injustice. 
 
This February, Vanguard Athletics joins not only the Easter-Hairston family, but all of the Black student-athletes in celebrating just one important piece of Black History in an effort to remind everyone of not only how far we have come, but of the work that is still to be done.
 
"Luke was a historical figure that helped generations after him get to where they wanted to go. I want to do the same," said Chase.
 
For more information on the foundation and how to support the mission, visit: https://lukeeasterfoundation.org/.