For the Hairston family, the third edition of the revived East-West Classic at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Juneteenth isn’t just an exhibition game. It’s a true family reunion, in a city where they have roots.
Jerry Hairston Sr. is back to manage the East squad and his son Jerry Jr. Across the field, in the West dugout, will be another son, Scott. For the brothers, this will be their third Classic; it’s their father’s second as manager.
Jerry Sr., who played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues with the White Sox and Pirates, was born in Birmingham. The family of his father, Sam, moved to the area when Sam was a toddler so his father could look for work. After graduating from Birmingham’s Hooper High, Sam played in the Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns and appeared in four games with the White Sox in 1951 before spending nine more seasons in the Minor Leagues. But Birmingham was home for the rest of his life, and after his passing in 1997, he was buried in the city’s Elmwood Cemetery.
“It’s a blessing,” Scott Hairston said after last year’s game when asked about playing in the city. “My grandfather, I wish he was alive today to see it, but he's the one that started it, and he went through so much. Black players back then, not given an opportunity to play in the big leagues – but he ended up playing in the big leagues for a brief time.”
With Sam’s son and two grandsons following him to the Majors, the Hairstons are one of five known families to have three generations play in the big leagues.
“[Sam] was a Negro League All-Star,” Scott said, “and he worked so hard and instilled a lot of great values in my dad and my uncles, and they passed that along to my brothers and me.”
At the Negro Southern League Museum, next to the ballpark of the Double-A Birmingham Barons, there is a display case dedicated to the three generations of Hairstons. Before last year’s game, the players and their families attended a reception at the museum, which meant a lot to the Hairston contingent.
“Baseball means so much to our family, Scott said, “and to be a part of baseball history and to see my son’s eyes light up when he saw the case, it’s a great feeling, it really is.”
The annual tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Games will be held on June 19 at Rickwood Field, with the Home Run Derby starting at noon CT and the East vs. West game at 1 p.m. CT. Tickets -- priced at $12 for general admission -- are now available here.
This year’s iteration will last five innings or two hours, whichever comes first, after the conclusion of the Home Run Derby.