MLB greats converge upon Rickwood Field for third East-West Classic

BIRMINGHAM – Shane Greene scattered three hits and two runs over three innings of work to earn the win at the third Annual East-West Classic, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player to top off a hot humid day on Friday at America’s oldest ballpark.

The West squad, captained by Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia, scored three in the first and another three in the fourth on their way to a 7-2 victory. Five different West players drove in runs as part of a balanced attack, with Gregor Blanco’s two-run double in the fourth to plate Nick Swisher and Brandon Watson capping off the scoring.

“We love coming here,” said former All-Star outfielder Justin Upton. “When you really think about, you know, some of the players that played on this field, it does make it special in a different way.”

Rickwood Field, built in 1910, has seen a lot through the years, including the first Major League game played there when the Giants and Cardinals met in 2024. Over 185 Hall of Fame members have played, coached, or managed at the 116-year-old ballpark. The first modern-day East-West Classic was played in Cooperstown, NY, in 2024, before the game moved to Rickwood Field last year.

Friday’s game proved to be unique from the start. With one out, two on, and three runs in, East pitcher Edwin Jackson’s left cleat came apart in the first inning. Jackson finished his delivery and discovered the bottom of his shoe had not. He picked up the piece of his shoe laying on the mound, and headed into the clubhouse for emergency repairs while Jeremy Guthrie came in to finish the inning. Once Jackson’s shoe issues were fixed, both sides agreed to let him return to the game in the bottom of the second.

Prior to the game, Prince Fielder successfully defended his Classic Home Run Derby crown, beating Miguel Montero in the final round. Fielder’s victory-clinching home run landed on the roof in right field. Given the history of Rickwood Field, it was only fitting that two left-handed hitters squared off in the finals. It is 332 feet down the right-field line, the shortest path to a home run at Rickwood Field, and three feet shorter than the park’s original right-field fence.

Rickwood Field was originally a right-handed hitter’s nightmare, measuring over 500 feet to dead center, and 478 feet to left-center. The left-field line, originally 470 feet, was 13 feet shorter than the center-field fence in the old Polo Grounds in New York.

“I don’t know how you hit the ball out of here,” said former Yankees and Mets pitcher Dellin Betances, who came in to pitch a scoreless fourth inning for the West. “As a pitcher, I would have loved that we had a place that was 478. I would have just pitched to contact all day.”

A roster comprised of nothing but players, coaches, and managers who have competed at Rickwood Field as part of the Negro Leagues, the old Southern League, or as part of MLB barnstorming tours and exhibition games would be unmatched. The ballpark has hosted Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, Henry "Hank" Aaron, Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Reggie Jackson, Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, and scores of other legendary ballplayers.

The East-West Classic was created by Major League Baseball in 2024 to honor the sport’s Negro Leagues, and pay tribute to a foundation upon which so many of today’s players stand. “I’m really happy to be here and be a part of this,” said Guthrie. “To come back and pay tribute to those who’ve played here in the Negro Leagues as a whole is really fascinating and a fantastic venture by the city of Birmingham and Major League Baseball.”

Friday’s game was about past generations and new ones. Three generations of Hairstons participated in the game. Jerry Hairston, Sr., whose father Sam played for the Birmingham Black Barons team that called Rickwood Field home, served as a coach for the East squad. His sons Scott and Jerry Hairston Jr., both former Major Leaguers, played in this year’s Classic, and grandson Jackson Hairston not only caught the ceremonial first pitch, but also came on to pinch hit, grounding out to short as the game’s final out. Four local high school players participated in the game, notching a hit and a stolen base.

Rickwood Field, the setting for three different movies about Major League legends is a place where the memories, as James Earl Jones famously said in "Field of Dreams", “are so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.” This year’s East West Classic was not only about remembering the past, but also about creating new memories for new generations of fans.