'It didn’t matter who won the game': The forgotten classic that honored MLK Jr.
The game itself is largely forgotten. There is no video, and even those who played in the game don’t remember most of the details. What they do remember is the meaning behind the game and the feeling of being asked to play in one of the most significant games Major League Baseball has ever put on.
On March 28, 1970, a game known as the East-West Major League Baseball Classic was held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated almost two years prior.
“I was honored to play there,” Reggie Jackson told MLB.com in a phone interview. Jackson was just 23 years old at the time. “It was so special to be a part of that.”
One or two players were selected from each of the 24 Major League teams at the time. A total of 23 Hall of Famers either played or coached in the game.
Joe DiMaggio managed one team, Roy Campanella the other, and coaches included Sandy Koufax, Satchel Paige, Stan Musial and Larry Doby.
Among the 31,694 in attendance were Jackie Robinson and Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King.
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How did such an amazing array of talent come together for one event? It all began in the weeks and months after Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.
Players around the league were looking for a way to make a meaningful contribution amid the turmoil. After consulting with Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, they came up with the idea for an All-Star game to raise money for the SCLC and a new memorial center for Dr. King being built in Atlanta.
Originally conceived as an event for March 1969, logistical complications forced the game to be postponed for one year. When the game was officially a go, players knew immediately that this was a special event like no other.
“All of the players were in unison, totally behind it,” Al Downing said of the mix of Black, Latino and white players who took part.
“It was like being in the locker room with a bunch of All-Stars,” Downing remembered. “It was a tremendous activity and a tremendous idea.”
Mrs. King stood behind one of the dugouts and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Johnny Bench. Mudcat Grant dressed in what was described as a “glittering” white suit and sang the national anthem, and a portion of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech was played over the Dodger Stadium speakers as players stood for baseline introductions.
Teams were separated by Eastern and Western Divisions rather than the traditional National and American Leagues format used in the annual midseason All-Star Game. It evoked memories of the old East-West Negro Leagues All-Star games.
Almost three decades before Interleague Play, the unique alignment created eye-popping lineups.
Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell started in the outfield for the East, with Roberto Clemente, Lou Brock and Al Kaline among the reserves.
The top two hitters for the West were Maury Wills and Pete Rose, followed in the 3-4-5 slots by Hank Aaron, Jackson and Bench.
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The Giants were in Japan for a series of exhibition games there, but Willie Mays was not going to miss this. He flew from Tokyo to L.A., came off the bench to pinch-hit for Houston’s Don Wilson, then flew back to Tokyo to rejoin his team.
“This is too important to pass up,” Mays said at the time. Other superstars who took time away from their team’s Spring Training camps echoed the sentiment.
“If Dr. King could give his life for a cause he believed in, the least I can do is give one day for it,” said Tom Seaver, who pitched three scoreless innings for the East before handing the ball to Bob Gibson, who gave up just one hit over his three innings.
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More than half a century later, Reggie Smith, who started in center field for the East, believes the atmosphere was something he hasn’t seen before or since.
“It was similar to an All-Star Game, but it was so different,” said Smith, who vividly remembers meeting Mrs. King and Jackie Robinson, but does not recall going 1-for-3 with a double for the East in a 5-1 victory.
“In thinking back now, what that game meant, it was probably the first time that it didn’t matter who won the game. It was so special just being out there and what the game represented and stood for, bringing the nation together through baseball, and how we could all honor a great man in Martin Luther King Jr. and what he stood for.”