2026 MSBL Player/Coach Profile: Cliff Hawkins, Cleveland MSBL

By Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications

You may have noticed that in this instance, we titled the profile ‘Player/Coach’.  Sure, Cliff still loves to play the game.  But what I found out during our discussion is that this guy cares more about his team and the nurturing of young men into responsible citizens and good ballplayers.  That’s what makes him tick, more so than a game-winning RBI.

“My desire has always been to coach,” said Cliff.  “I also believe that everyone who signs up should play.  That may not be the most popular concept up and down the league, but it’s mine.  I’ll have 14 guys in a batting order, and everyone buys in at the beginning of the year.  I think that’s why they stay with me for so long.”

Cliff has been coaching for 42 years, was named the ‘Guardian of the Year’ last year, and threw out the first pitch at a Cleveland Guardians game.  They even gave Cliff his own Guardians jersey.  He has also been inducted into the Cleveland Amateur Sandlot Hall of Fame.  His team in the Cleveland MSBL is the Hawks, formerly the Dukes, a team he has been coaching since 1997 across the Cleveland landscape.

“We create a family atmosphere.  I have guys playing on our team who have been with me since they were 12.  There is a player, Daryl, who is now 42 years old and a police officer.  He has been a friend and a player for 30 years.  Many of my kids have become coaches themselves.

My players have played for me their entire lives.  Many of them come from the inner city, and they were looking for something to latch on to.  I am happy to have been able to provide that stability in their lives.”

Cliff has been in the retail business, supplying merchandising options for companies.  He also functions as an umpire on occasion, at the insistence of Cleveland League President Tony Martin.

“Tony can be pretty persuasive, but I love it.”

How did this coaching passion grow roots?

“I got into a bit of trouble when I was young, and it became the catalyst for my coaching passion and success.  I was around 18 years old, and my community service punishment was to coach baseball for inner-city kids.  I embraced it, became their Big Brother, and helped them out for about five years.   I knew what I wanted to do to help the kids, and I am still in touch with some of them today.

I was fortunate to meet local coaching legend Eugene Duke during this period and assisted him for around seven years.  I was coaching various youth teams four days a week.  It was far from a punishment.  I was able to help mold these young men and give them something to be proud of.”

Cliff took the traditional path through Little League, but quickly found that his coaching instincts were taking over as he matured.  He is currently coaching the Hawks, which include his sons Brandon and CJ.  As mentioned, Cliff previously coached the Dukes, which also included his son Andy.

“I have coached over 1,000 kids in my 42 years of coaching and have loved every moment.  Hopefully, I have made a difference in their lives somewhere along the way.”

I asked Cliff if he had a favorite ballplayer of all time?

“It has to be Pete Rose.  I loved his hustle and liked the way he played the game.  I have an autographed bat of Pete’s.  I also admire Jackie Robinson.  Considering everything he has to endure…amazing.”

I pushed Cliff to tell me, in his opinion, what made the Cleveland MSBL the long-standing and successful league that it remains today.

“We have 20 teams and get to play a lot of ballgames on good fields, with good umpires, in a competitive atmosphere.  The competition is always good, and the teams keep coming back because it is first class.  Tony (Martin) is always overseeing things.  He does a remarkable job, which is why the teams always come back.”

Final thoughts?

“I try to teach the kids not just the game, but the integrity of the game.  A lot of my kids over the years have come from the inner city, so I get quite a mix.

My family sacrifices.  I’m gone every Sunday, and fortunately, my wife is very understanding.  I am also fortunate that my guys are showing up, and I’m not looking around the parking lot to see who showed up.  They want to show up because I allow them to have fun and make sure they enjoy playing.

It’s not softball, it’s baseball.  They have learned through their years with me to respect the game, as I respect them.”