This Juneteenth, Major League Baseball will once again return to its roots—honoring the stories and stars of Black baseball—by hosting the second annual East-West Classic at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The oldest professional ballpark in the country, Rickwood once served as home to the Birmingham Black Barons, where a teenage Willie Mays got his professional start before launching one of the most iconic careers in baseball history.
This year’s East-West Classic, a tribute to the Negro Leagues’ legendary All-Star showcase held from 1933 to 1962, will take place on Wednesday, June 19—aligning with Juneteenth, a national holiday that marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The date carries heavy cultural significance and offers the perfect backdrop for MLB’s continued commitment to honoring Black baseball history.
Before the first pitch at 1:05 p.m., players will take part in a home run derby at noon, featuring returning champion Adam Jones. The five-inning contest will be captained by Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia (West) and MLB Network’s Chris Young (East), with the legendary Dusty Baker serving as an honorary manager. Together, the participating players represent over 390 MLB seasons, 10 World Series titles, two Cy Young Awards, and 68 All-Star selections.
The event will also feature a pop-up display from the National Baseball Hall of Fame showcasing items from its Souls of the Game exhibit, giving fans a chance to engage with rarely seen artifacts and stories from Black baseball’s past.
But the day’s celebration won’t be limited to Rickwood Field.
Just a few miles away in Fairfield, Alabama—the hometown of the late Willie Mays—MLB and local leaders will unveil a refurbished baseball and softball diamond at Willie Mays Park. What had fallen into disrepair has been transformed into a competitive-grade field, built for future generations of ballplayers. Community partners like Miles College, A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club, NIKE RBI, and local Little League programs will help ensure the field stays active for years to come. The restoration project, supported in part by proceeds from the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings Charity Auction, is part of MLB Together—baseball’s social responsibility platform.
This year’s event follows up on the success of 2024’s inaugural East-West Classic, held at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, which included a star-studded roster of legends and rising stars, a home run derby win by Jones, and the unveiling of the Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball exhibit just blocks from the ballpark. You can read our full recap of that historic weekend here.
Rickwood Field is more than just a ballpark. It’s sacred ground for the legacy of the Negro Leagues. It’s where Mays began. It’s where Charley Pride, Pee Wee Jenkins, and Spoon Carter played before their names were known. And it’s where, in October 1948, the final Negro League World Series game was played—ending with Mays’ Black Barons falling to the Homestead Grays.
The East-West Classic isn’t just a commemorative game. It’s a bridge between generations—an acknowledgment of the greatness that came before, and a promise that their stories will continue to be told.