The myth says Black communities don’t play baseball, but West Baltimore’s James Mosher Baseball League has been proving otherwise since 1960. Behind Chalk Lines follows a season with the volunteer coaches who keep it alive, revealing how a neighborhood turns a sport into community care, and a field into a place where kids learn to stand tall.

“Behind Chalk Lines” is an intimate, uplifting documentary short set in the heart of West Baltimore, where a historic youth baseball league does far more than teach kids to swing a bat. The film centers on the passionate, volunteer coaches of the James Mosher Baseball League, a diverse brotherhood and sisterhood of mentors who have preserved a legacy of hope, discipline, and community for more than 65 years. It also shines a light on the players, the mentees, and the community that holds everyone together.

Founded in 1960 by Black civic leaders determined to give local kids an opportunity to play baseball and to help steer youth away from the streets, James Mosher Baseball is one of the oldest continuously operating African American youth baseball leagues in the United States. Its mission has never changed: to provide a safe haven, build character, and develop leaders, free of charge, for boys and girls ages 4 to 18.

About The Filmmakers

“Behind Chalk Lines” is more than a film. It’s a tribute to the unseen heroes of West Baltimore, a call to action, and a living archive of care. It reimagines who gets to tell stories, who gets seen, and how we collectively create a more equitable and inspired future. Through the lens of a baseball league, we see the heart of a city, strong, loving, and undefeated.

Thomas Huggins

Director/Saul Zaentz Fellow

Sarah Nelson

Producer/Saul Zaentz Fellow

About The Film

Tales of victory and loss rarely reveal the complete narrative. The genuine feelings of life, the strength of the human spirit, and the bond within the community reshape our perceptions of what we believe to be true.