MLB Brings East-West Classic Back to Historic Rickwood Field

On June 19th, Hall of Famers and former All-Stars will step onto the same field where Willie Mays began his legendary career, bringing history full circle in Birmingham, Alabama.

Major League Baseball is hosting its third East-West Classic at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in America. The event honors the Negro Leagues All-Star Games that ran from 1933 to 1962, featuring stars who changed baseball forever despite facing segregation.

This year's rosters include fresh Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia leading the West and Chris Young captaining the East. They'll be joined by former All-Stars like Prince Fielder, Matt Kemp, and Justin Upton for a five-inning game starting at 1:00 p.m., with a Home Run Derby kicking things off at noon.

"The East-West Classic shows that baseball is all about fun, community, and bringing people together," Young said. "There's no better place to do exactly that than Rickwood Field, where we can honor the legends who helped build the foundation of our game."

The venue itself tells an incredible story. Rickwood Field served as home to the Birmingham Black Barons from 1924 through 1960, where a teenage Willie Mays played his first professional games in 1948. The ballpark also hosted the final Negro League World Series game that same year.

The Ripple Effect

MLB isn't just throwing a game and calling it a day. Over 150 young players from local youth baseball programs will get free coaching from the Classic participants at the newly renovated Willie Mays Park in neighboring Fairfield. Those kids will then receive tickets to watch their new coaches play at Rickwood.

The commitment to accessibility extends to everyone. General admission tickets cost just $12, making this celebration available to families across Birmingham and beyond. Last year's Rickwood event won Sports Business Journal's award for Best New Event of 2024.

The timing matters deeply. Holding the Classic on Juneteenth connects baseball's integration story to America's broader journey toward equality. Willie Mays himself passed away on June 18th, 2024, making last year's event an unexpected national tribute to his life and legacy.

Birmingham and the Friends of Rickwood worked with MLB to fully renovate the National Historic Site in 2024, ensuring this piece of baseball history will inspire future generations. Now it's becoming an annual tradition that keeps those stories alive.

Baseball is bringing its best back to where it all began, proving that honoring the past and building the future can happen on the same diamond.