San Quentin Baseball Feature

SAN QUENTIN, CA - MAY 27: Branden Terrel walks through the yard on his way to returning to their baseball game against the Sonoma Stompers on May 27, 2017 in San Quentin, California. Branden Terrel was sentenced to 11 years in state prison for the 2012 stabbing death of one of his friends. In an agreement between the prosecution and defendant, Terrel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. When sentenced, Terrel requested to spend his time behind bars at San Quentin State Prison. He did so because of all of the programs that San Quentin offers to its prisoners. The programs range from carpentry classes, to drama groups, to computer coding and also athletic programs such as baseball. Prisoners at San Quentin State Prison have been playing baseball since the 1920s. Starting in 1994, the inmates started playing against players from outside the prison. San Quentin now has two baseball teams, the San Quentin Athletics and the San Quentin Giants. The baseball program is run by Elliot Smith. He spends two days at San Quentin each week helping to coach both of the teams at practice and during games. The program is open to all prisoners, except for those on death row, in solitary confinement and in protective custody. Smith brings in teams from all over the country to play after the San Quentin teams. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)