This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.
Students from the Anderson County School District worked with the Belton Area Museum Association in South Carolina to produce oral history interviews related to the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America," which toured South Carolina in 2016 and was on view in Belton.
Matthew LeCroy (00:00): Growing up in Belton, it was awesome. Small town, I had a lot of friends, I played all the sports growing up. I went to church in Belton. I had a lot of support. And then, when I became a big league baseball player, I came back and still lived here in the off season.
Speaker 2 (00:34): Matthew LeCroy has accomplished great things in sports. Olympic medalist, professional player, college hall of famer, and prominent baseball coach for one of the hottest major league baseball teams in the nation.
Speaker 3 (00:46): Playing on small town Belton recreation teams started this illustrious career.
Matthew LeCroy (00:51): We had a great athletic facility recreation department. My mother was a recreation director, so I was always around it. They gave us opportunities to play football and basketball, baseball, and tennis. I actually played tennis and won a state championship.
Speaker 4 (01:06): People are inspired to play sports for many reasons.
Matthew LeCroy (01:09): My family was all involved with sports, but the one guy that I looked up to the most was my brother. He was an athletic guy. He played football, basketball, and baseball, and he was eight years older than me. So, I kind of followed him around everywhere and got on his nerves, being a little brother. And, I was a ball boy and batboy on his baseball team. So, he was the guy that really got me started
Speaker 5 (01:30): Many kids dream about one day becoming a professional athlete. For Matthew Leroy, this dream became a reality.
Matthew LeCroy (01:37): You know, baseball was a dream of mine as a child and I wanted to play football in the NFL, wanted to play NBA basketball. I dreamed to play into the major leagues. And, fortunately I was lucky enough to be good enough to play in the major leagues.
Speaker 2 (01:52): Some might say it was luck, but LeCroy says other factors contributed to his success.
Matthew LeCroy (01:58): I really knew that I wanted to go to college and play baseball and I knew grades were important. So, baseball actually really inspired me and challenged me to do well, so I could get into college. BHP, when I was in high school, to me, challenged me both academically and athletically. It was really a great spot for me to be. And, I know it still is today, so we just got to take advantage of all the opportunities.
Speaker 3 (02:22): After helping the Belton-Honea Path High School bears win two back to back state championships, he signed to play baseball at Clemson University.
Jack Leggett (02:31): My first recollection of Matthew Leroy was, I saw him as a high school player and he just stood out. He was extremely strong, had great power, was a great leader on the field.
Asset ID: 2022.23.07
Find a complete transcription at www.museumonmainstreet.org
