Houston blackout lifted for Civil Rights Game

Major League Baseball plans to lift the blackout for Friday's Civil Rights Game for all fans in the Astros' viewing territory. The game will be available on MLB Network.

The game between the Astros and Orioles will air nationally with Harold Reynolds, Matt Vasgersian and Sam Ryan calling the action. Both teams will wear Negro Leagues throwback uniforms. The Astros will don the colors of the Houston Eagles (1949-50), and the Orioles will be wearing the uniforms of the Baltimore Elite Giants (1938-50).

The first 15,000 fans to enter Minute Maid Park on Friday will receive a special commemorative Civil Rights Game cap, and the Astros will treat fans to a postgame fireworks show with a Motown theme.

The Civil Rights Game began in Memphis, Tenn., in 2007, centering on an exhibition game between the Cardinals and Indians. After another exhibition game in Memphis in '08 between the Mets and White Sox, the Civil Rights Game moved to Cincinnati ('09-10), then Atlanta ('11-12) as regular-season contests, and last year was hosted in Chicago by the White Sox.