Civil Rights Game
The Civil Rights Game is an annual Major League Baseball game (starting in 2007) that honors the history of civil rights in the United States and marked the unofficial end to the league's Spring Training. Starting in 2009, the game will be a regular season game.
The first two games were held at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee. The intent of the game was to "embrace baseball's history of African-American players," as well as to generate interest for future black players, after a demographics survey revealed that the percentage of black players in the league has dwindled over the past twelve years to just 8.4 percent.[1] The survey, ironically, also gave the diversity of players in Major League Baseball an A+ grade. While many were focusing on the drop in African-Americans in the sport since 1996 from 17 percent to 8 percent, it was noted that the percentage of Hispanic players increased during that period from 20 percent to 29 percent, and Asian and other minorities increased from 1 percent to 3 percent. The percentage of Caucasian players actually went down from 62 percent to 60 percent during that period. [2]
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig commented on air during the first Civil Rights game that the 8 percent total for African-Americans was "a problem that needed to be looked at." Associated Press news releases related to the game focused on the drop in African-Americans, and quoted former Cleveland pitcher CC Sabathia on the idea that baseball must do more to promote the game in inner cities, saying, "It's not just a problem — it's a crisis."[3]
Results
| Year | Host City | Stadium | Team | Score | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Memphis, TN | AutoZone Park | Cleveland Indians | 1-5 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 2008 | Memphis, TN | AutoZone Park | Chicago White Sox | 2-3 | New York Mets |
| 2009 | Cincinnati, OH | Great American Ball Park | Cincinnati Reds | Chicago White Sox | |
| 2010 | Cincinnati, OH | Great American Ball Park |
Inaugural Game
The inaugural game was played on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 5:30 PM and was broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPNHD. It was announced by ESPN's #1 broadcast team of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, with Peter Gammons serving as a field analyst (his role during Sunday Night Baseball telecasts on ESPN). The game featured the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians. Both teams wore uniforms reminiscent of those worn in Negro League games, but sorely lacking in appearance compared to the old Negro League uniforms. The Cardinals won 5-1, receiving a solid five-inning start out of their 2006 closer Adam Wainwright, who got the win.
Controversy
Despite the good intentions of Major League Baseball in instituting the game, Commissioner Bud Selig has come under heavy fire from Native Americans who feel that the involvement of the Cleveland Indians was a slap in the face to the Cherokee people who still live in the Memphis area after the infamous Trail of Tears passed through less than 200 years ago. The New York Daily News called the situation a "primer on how to inadvertently stage an ironic insult to a local and large population of Natives" and insinuated that the league has (inadvertently) sabotaged the game by inviting the Indians.[4] The popular sports blog Deadspin asked the profound question "If the Indians win, do Native Americans get civil rights?"[5]
The circumstances were also partially responsible for reenergizing the debate over the controversial Indians logo, which features a caricature of an Indian chief with bright red skin and perpetuates Native American stereotypes.
2008 Game
On December 3, 2007, league officials announced details for the second annual game. It was played on March 29, 2008. The New York Mets beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2. Martin Luther King III threw out the first pitch.
2009 and 2010 Games
The 2009 game will become a regular season game to be played on June 20th of that year at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio between the host Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. The Reds will also host the 2010 game as well.[6]
Notes
- ^ Only 8.4 Percent of MLB Players Black
- ^ Major League Baseball
- ^ Only 8.4 Percent of MLB Players Black
- ^ Bud sends Indians & insulting message to Rights Game - Sports - NY Daily News
- ^ Mlb: If The Indians Win, Do Native Americans Get Civil Rights?
- ^ Baseball says Civil Rights Game will move to Cincinnati for 2009
President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States of America will be on hand to throw out the first pitch, and participate in the events surrounding the special day.