THIRD ANNUAL EAST-WEST CLASSIC
For the third straight year, MLB will celebrate Juneteenth with an event at Rickwood Field. The 3rd annual East-West Classic returns to Birmingham on June 19th, serving as a powerful tribute to the legacy of the Negro Leagues All-Star Game and its enduring cultural impact on baseball.
This year’s Classic will once again be led by captains CC Sabathia (West) and Chris Young (East), with rosters expected to include former All-Stars and World Series champions like Mike Cameron, Jose Contreras, Prince Fielder, Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, and others. Expanding its community impact, The East-West Classic will also feature an exciting Home Run Derby competition prior to the game, bringing together former MLB stars and fan favorites for a high-energy showcase! Participants are set to include Prince Fielder, Nick Swisher, Jerry Hairston Jr., Miguel Montero, Aaron Hicks, and Pedro Alvarez.
MLB will also host a special Juneteenth PLAY BALL event at the newly refurbished Willie Mays Park in neighboring Fairfield, reinforcing the event’s connection to history, culture, and youth engagement.
Tickets will be available in the MLB Ballpark app closer to the event - all ticket buyers will receive an email once available.
ABOUT THE EAST-WEST CLASSIC
Originally debuting in 1933 at Comiskey Park, the Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game became a cornerstone of Black baseball history through 1962, featuring legends such as Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell, among many other Hall of Famers.
MLB chose to celebrate the East-West Classic during Juneteenth as a way to honor and elevate the history, legacy, and cultural impact of Black baseball in America. The timing creates a meaningful connection between the celebration of freedom, Black history, and the contributions of Negro Leagues players, pioneers, and communities who helped shape the game of baseball despite segregation and systemic barriers.
FACTS ABOUT RICKWOOD FIELD
- Opened August 18, 1910
- Construction cost: $75,000
- Capacity: 10,800
- Modeled after Pittsburgh's Forbes Field
- First Minor League ballpark constructed from concrete and steel
- Spring Training home of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1911 and 1920, and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1919
- Added to National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1993
- Hosted the annual Rickwood Classic since 1996
- Filming location for Cobb, Soul of the Game, and 42
The Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues called Rickwood Field home from 1924 through 1960. As a teenager, Willie Mays began his professional career with the Black Barons in 1948. He played with them before beginning his legendary MLB career as a member of the New York Giants in 1951. Rickwood Field was the site of the final Negro League World Series game in October 1948, which saw Mays’ Black Barons falling to the Homestead Grays in five games.
June 19, 2026
Rickwood Field
Birmingham, Alabama
Tickets will be available in the MLB Ballpark app closer to the event - all ticket buyers will receive an email once available.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00 a.m. | Spectator Gates Open |
| 12:00 p.m. | Home Run Derby |
| 1:10 p.m. | First Pitch (East @ West) |