Hall of Fame to honor Negro League's East-West All-Star Game
The National Baseball Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the Negro Leagues' East-West All-Star Game with a legends exhibition in Cooperstown, New York.
Reviving a Tradition
The Negro Leagues' East-West All-Star Game, a long-standing tradition in baseball history, will be revived in a legends exhibition at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Announced during the winter meetings, the game will take place on May 25, 2024, at Doubleday Field.
The exhibition will feature a number of prominent ex-big leaguers, including Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie Smith who will manage and coach the squads. Former All-Star players CC Sabathia and Chris Young will serve as team captains.
CC Sabathia expressed his gratitude for being able to honor the legacy of the Negro Leagues' stars, acknowledging their talent, courage, and devotion to the game. The game will be a part of the Hall of Fame's celebration of Black baseball and will serve as a tribute to these pioneers.
A Historic Game
The first East-West All-Star Game took place on September 10, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, just two months after the inaugural major league All-Star Game. This game became an annual tradition until 1962, featuring the East and West divisions of the Negro Leagues.
Unfortunately, the game came to an end after the last Negro League disbanded in 1962. However, its historical significance will be revived through the legends exhibition at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The game will coincide with the unveiling of the museum's new exhibit called 'The Souls of the Game: Voice of Black Baseball.' The exhibit is a part of the Hall's Black Baseball Initiative, which aims to tell the comprehensive story of the history of Black baseball from its origins to the present day.
Honoring the Legacy
The idea to revive the Negro League All-Star format originated from John Odell, a curator for the Hall of Fame who passed away in July. The Hall's president, Josh Rawitch, expressed the significance of recognizing the contribution of Black players throughout the history of baseball in America.
CC Sabathia played a major role in getting players on board for the exhibition. Many players showed enthusiastic support and expressed their desire to be a part of the weekend's events.
The Hall of Fame will also host the Jerry Malloy Negro League conference in June, promoting scholarly work focused on the subject and advancing MLB's integration of Negro League statistics into the official major league record.
