Major League Baseball will host the second annual East-West Classic at Rickwood Field on June 19, marking a celebration of Juneteenth and honoring the legacy of the Negro Leagues. The event, a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Games held from 1933 to 1962, coincides with the 94th birthday of Alabama native Willie Mays.
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Tickets for the event, which is making its first appearance at the historic Birmingham ballpark, are available for $12 on MLB.com. The game will feature 2025 Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia as the West captain and All-Star outfielder Chris Young as the East captain, with Dusty Baker serving as honorary manager.
The East-West Classic will include a home run derby at noon, followed by a five-inning game starting at 1:05 p.m. The MLB Network will produce and air an all-access program on June 29, showcasing the event’s highlights.
In addition to the game, MLB will unveil a refurbished baseball and softball field at Willie Mays Park in Fairfield, Mays’ hometown. The field, which had fallen into disrepair, will now serve local youth baseball players. The project is part of MLB Together, the league’s social responsibility initiative.
Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, was home to the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues from 1924 to 1960. Mays began his professional career with the Black Barons in 1948 before joining the New York Giants in 1951.
The East-West Classic continues MLB’s efforts to honor the history of the Negro Leagues and provide opportunities for youth engagement in baseball.
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