Jimmy Rollins and Rickie Weeks named managers for fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic
Game featuring top HBCU players in nation set to begin 2026 All-Star Week Ballpark Festivities
Tickets for the Event On-Sale at AllStarGame.com
Major League Baseball today announced that Philadelphia Phillies legend and 2007 National League MVP Jimmy Rollins and 14-year Major League Baseball veteran and HBCU alum Rickie Weeks will serve as managers for the 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic presented by USA Baseball. The Swingman Classic, which is in its fourth year, is scheduled for Friday, July 10th (7:00 p.m. ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was founded by Ken Griffey Jr. in 2023 and takes place at the beginning of MLB All-Star Week, highlighting players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) from across the nation.
For the fourth consecutive year, MLB Network will exclusively broadcast the game with Dave Sims (play-by-play) and Harold Reynolds (analyst) on the call. Griffey Jr. and Emily Haydel, granddaughter of Hank Aaron, will also contribute to the broadcast.
“We are extremely excited to bring aboard a Philadelphia legend in Jimmy Rollins and one of the best HBCU players of all time in Rickie Weeks as managers for this year’s Swingman Classic,” said Del Matthews, MLB’s Senior Vice President of Baseball Development. “The careers of both Jimmy and Rickie speak for themselves, and we are confident that they will provide a unique and beneficial experience to the players on our Swingman rosters. With two longtime Big Leaguers leading the way, the fourth annual Swingman Classic is certain to be a can’t-miss event.”
“This is a chance to reach back to the kids,” said Rollins on MLB Network. “I was influenced by Black players prior to me. Giving these players an opportunity to shine on the big stage and being able to be a part of that, I was not going to say no.”
“I’m privileged. [Southern University] was one of those places where you grew up,” said Weeks on MLB Network. “Coming back and getting a chance to manage a team [with players from] the team that gave me a chance to play college baseball, what more can you ask for than that?”
Rollins spent 15 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Phillies and is the franchise’s all-time hits leader. Selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 1996 MLB Draft, Rollins made his Big League debut in 2000 before posting back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2001 and 2002, leading the National League in triples in both seasons. He returned to the Midsummer Classic in 2005 and was named National League MVP in 2007, when he hit .296 with 30 home runs, 94 RBI and 20 triples, also leading the National League in runs with 139. In 2008, Rollins played a key role in the Phillies’ first World Series title in 28 years, earning a Gold Glove and batting .277 in 137 games. He won another two Gold Gloves in 2009 and 2012 for Philadelphia before spending his last two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015) and Chicago White Sox (2016). Rollins had 2,306 hits as a member of the Phillies, the most in franchise history, and sits atop the franchise leaderboard in doubles (479), leadoff home runs (46) and longest hitting streak (38). He was inducted to the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2025.
Weeks played collegiately at HBCU Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, becoming the only HBCU player to win the Golden Spikes Award in 2003 after posting an NCAA record .465 career batting average over three seasons with the Jaguars. He was drafted second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, debuting with the Club in 2003 before getting his first extended playing time in 2005 and finishing sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Weeks hit a career-high 29 home runs in 2010 and followed that up by posting an All-Star season for Milwaukee in 2011, batting .269 with 20 homers. Weeks played his final season with the Brewers in 2014 before finishing his career with stints with the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays. He sits in the top 10 on the Brewers statistical leaderboard in many categories, including games played (1,142), runs scored (684), triples (32) and leadoff home runs (26). Weeks is currently a Special Assistant – Baseball Operations and Domestic/International Scouting for Milwaukee, a role he took over in 2025 after previously serving as the Associate Manager for the Brewers.
The HBCU Swingman Classic presented by USA Baseball will feature special pregame activities designed to honor and celebrate HBCU culture. Pregame festivities, which will be announced at a later date, are set to feature an in-ballpark DJ, an in-game “Divine Nine” recognition and much more.
Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by USA Baseball are on sale NOW at AllStarGame.com.