This Juneteenth, Main League Baseball will as soon as once more return to its roots—honoring the tales and stars of Black baseball—by internet hosting the second annual East-West Traditional at Rickwood Discipline in Birmingham, Alabama. The oldest skilled ballpark within the nation, Rickwood as soon as served as house to the Birmingham Black Barons, the place a teenage Willie Mays bought his skilled begin earlier than launching some of the iconic careers in baseball historical past.
This 12 months’s East-West Traditional, a tribute to the Negro Leagues’ legendary All-Star showcase held from 1933 to 1962, will happen on Wednesday, June 19—aligning with Juneteenth, a nationwide vacation that marks the emancipation of enslaved African Individuals in the US. The date carries heavy cultural significance and provides the right backdrop for MLB’s continued dedication to honoring Black baseball historical past.
Earlier than the primary pitch at 1:05 p.m., gamers will participate in a house run derby at midday, that includes returning champion Adam Jones. The five-inning contest can be captained by Corridor of Fame inductee CC Sabathia (West) and MLB Community’s Chris Younger (East), with the legendary Dusty Baker serving as an honorary supervisor. Collectively, the collaborating gamers symbolize over 390 MLB seasons, 10 World Collection titles, two Cy Younger Awards, and 68 All-Star picks.
The occasion may also characteristic a pop-up show from the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame showcasing gadgets from its Souls of the Recreation exhibit, giving followers an opportunity to interact with not often seen artifacts and tales from Black baseball’s previous.
However the day’s celebration received’t be restricted to Rickwood Discipline.
Only a few miles away in Fairfield, Alabama—the hometown of the late Willie Mays—MLB and native leaders will unveil a refurbished baseball and softball diamond at Willie Mays Park. What had fallen into disrepair has been remodeled right into a competitive-grade discipline, constructed for future generations of ballplayers. Group companions like Miles School, A.G. Gaston Boys and Ladies Membership, NIKE RBI, and native Little League packages will assist guarantee the sphere stays energetic for years to come back. The restoration challenge, supported partially by proceeds from the 2024 MLB Winter Conferences Charity Public sale, is a part of MLB Collectively—baseball’s social duty platform.
This 12 months’s occasion follows up on the success of 2024’s inaugural East-West Traditional, held at Doubleday Discipline in Cooperstown, New York, which included a star-studded roster of legends and rising stars, a house run derby win by Jones, and the disclosing of the Souls of the Recreation: Voices of Black Baseball exhibit simply blocks from the ballpark. You may learn our full recap of that historic weekend right here.
Rickwood Discipline is greater than only a ballpark. It’s sacred floor for the legacy of the Negro Leagues. It’s the place Mays started. It’s the place Charley Delight, Pee Wee Jenkins, and Spoon Carter performed earlier than their names had been identified. And it’s the place, in October 1948, the ultimate Negro League World Collection sport was performed—ending with Mays’ Black Barons falling to the Homestead Grays.
The East-West Traditional isn’t only a commemorative sport. It’s a bridge between generations—an acknowledgment of the greatness that got here earlier than, and a promise that their tales will proceed to be instructed.