John McCarthy is a nationally acclaimed youth coach and literacy teacher and founder of Elementary Baseball and Homerun Baseball Camp. An award-winning after-school program in Washington D.C., Elementary Baseball has been working with underserved children for over a decade. In 1999, Coach McCarthy went to the Dominican Republic where he was asked by Sister Lenore Gibb, superintendent of the Consuelo public school system, to create an after-school baseball and literacy program modeled on Elementary Baseball.

Sister Lenore Gibb, a Canadian nun who had been living in the Dominican for forty years, introduced Coach McCarthy to Pepe Frias, a former Major Leaguer born and raised in Consuelo. Together, they formed Béisbol y Libros.

With the help of Sister Gibb and members of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and with Pepe Frias’ support, Coach McCarthy identified Dominican teachers to serve as baseball coaches. He brought down over 50 D.C. area baseball coaches and players to cross train with the Dominicans and get the program started. Along with Pepe Frias, other Major Leaguers including Alfredo Griffin, Rafael Ramirez, Pedro Guerrero, Mariano Duncan, Matt Whiteside and Mike Piazza have all lent their support to Béisbol y Libros.