Hall of Fame East-West Classic Honors Our History: The MLBbros Were Outside

Hall of Fame East-West Classic Honors Our History: The MLBbros Were Outside

by | May 26, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

On Saturday, May 25 a special baseball game was held in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame East-West Classic was at Doubleday Field and featured 30 former MLBbros.

 

An instant classic it was as the East defeated the West 5-4 in six innings.

 

Ryan Howard Wins East-West Classic MVP 

 

2008 World Series champ Ryan Howard was named MVP after hitting a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth to give the East the lead.

 

“It’s always been a fraternity,” Howard said after the game. “The cool part about it is you have your teammates that you play with coming up in the Minor Leagues. And a lot of the guys you play against at each level in the Minor Leagues, so in a sense you’re coming up together with them, as well. … And just to have this kind of brotherhood and continue to have it is special.”

 

Over 5,700 fans came out to watch former All-Star and Hall of Fame players.

 

Curtis Granderson hit the first home run of the game.

 

 

“It’s cool,” he said, wearing a Newark Eagles jersey. “Anytime I got a chance to play in these [Negro League throwbacks] throughout the course of a season, I always looked forward to it and loved it, so I’m happy to get a chance to put it back on again today.”

 

 

Your Favorite MLBbros Competed 

 

What a better way to honor the Negro Leagues than to have former MLB players coming together for a game?

 

It was a wonderful sight witnessing generations of MLBbros out there on the diamond.

 

Edwin Jackson took the mound to start the game, and it was good to see him reminiscing about his time in the big leagues and he let people know that he still has a little left in the tank.

 

Adam Jones Defeated Prince Fielder In Home Run Derby 

 

Before the game, they did a home run derby contest and Adam Jones defeated Prince Fielder. One player who received a lot of recognition from the crowd was star outfielder and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Along with the game, the weekend featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Souls of the Game exhibit.

 

 

Rowan Ricardo Phillips, an award-winning poet, was one of the consultants who was included in the development of the project, and he was pleased to see all the support.

 

“The fact that people really want to start and think about the roots of the story, the voices, from the beginning, people we don’t often think about — Bud Fowler, Octavius Catto, those types of players, it really excites me,” he said. “I think what’s really wonderful about the exhibit is, we can rethink the story of baseball that we want to tell to ourselves and to our future selves. Instead of thinking, well, let’s pick this up from 2020 or 2024 or whatever.”

 

Expect a lot more events similar to this in the near future and we can’t wait to see more of our MLBbro’s come together and fellowship with one another.

by | Sep 10, 2022 | FRONT STREET

19 years ago, Edwin Jackson made his MLB debut with the Dodgers. Today, he announced his retirement. The former All-Star has 107 career wins and more than 1500 strikeouts.

The Players Alliance Leaders Curtis Granderson & Edwin Jackson Promote Black Baseball In The Spirit Of Jackie Robinson

The Players Alliance Leaders Curtis Granderson & Edwin Jackson Promote Black Baseball In The Spirit Of Jackie Robinson

by | Apr 17, 2022 | 5TH SLOT

“As the stark racial minority in all aspects of our game, The Players Alliance has given a voice and platform to our Black players, unified in our stance against systemic racism,” said Curtis Granderson, former MLB player and President of The Players Alliance. “We stand together for what is right and to change our game for the better. The power of our player membership, including our non-Black teammates, coupled with the support of MLB and the Players Association, gives us the unique ability to create increased opportunities for the Black communities we care so much about” — Curtis Granderson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edwin Jackson Is Team USA All The Way | For The Love Of The Game

Edwin Jackson Is Team USA All The Way | For The Love Of The Game

by | Jul 26, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

When it comes to baseball, former major league pitcher Edwin Jackson loves the game too much to walk away from it.

The 37-year-old has not played in the league since 2019 but he still has something left in the tank.

 


Now, Jackson is playing for something much bigger as he is a member of the USA baseball team competing in the Tokyo Olympics.


Jackson already has a World Series title, but he’ll have a shot to win an Olympic Gold Medal, something he’s never done before. 

The USA team is filled with former MLB veterans and players who are in different minor league organizations.

Jackson is considered to be one of the leaders on this team and he’ll look to play a significant role.

When it comes to experience playing baseball, Jackson has a lot of it. 

He played for an MLB record 14 teams between 2003 to 2019. And this MLBbro remembers every single team he played for.

 


The former 2009 All-Star went on to list the revolving door of teams he played for.

“I can, but it won’t be quick,” he told the New York Times as he was getting ready to list the teams. “L.A., Detroit — I mean Tampa Bay!”

Jackson went on to finish listing the teams. “Tampa Bay to Detroit. Detroit to Arizona. Arizona to the White Sox. White Sox to St. Louis. St. Louis to D.C. D.C. to Chicago. Chicago to the Braves.

The Braves to the Marlins. The Marlins to San Diego. San Diego to Baltimore, I believe. Baltimore back to the Nationals. The Nationals to Oakland. Oakland to Toronto. Toronto to Detroit.”

 

Jackson is a nomad in the MLB because he’s constantly been on the move throughout his career. 

Now in 2021, he has a chance to represent the United States in the Olympics and bring stability to a squad with high expectations.

He also wants to make a cultural impact on the game.

“Not only do I want to represent the country, I want to represent my fellow African Americans that play this game of baseball,” Jackson told the New York Times. “I want to be able to go influence a young African American player that’s never played baseball before. They look at me and be like, ‘Damn, maybe I could be like him.’”

This is a once and a lifetime opportunity that Jackson is experiencing and the fact that he has the chance to add Olympian to his resume is not something many MLB players get a chance to do. 

While he’s been out of the league for a few years, when he steps on that mound, he can still bring it.

“He looks electric,” Todd Frazier said, who’s another veteran on the USA team.

And Frazier isn’t the only person who has noticed that Jackson can still dominate out there.

“Don’t worry about what his age says. His body’s like a 26-year-old,” USA manager Mike Scioscia said.

Jackson will be one player you will want to keep your eye on during the Olympics as the USA team will play its first game on Friday, July 31st.

When he takes the mound, make sure you are tuned in, because you don’t want to miss it.