The legends were out at Rickwood Field Friday for the MLB East-West Classic. The third edition of the game was a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Games held from 1933 to 1962. The roster featured a group of players with 276 combined Major League seasons. They combined for eight World Series titles, a Cy Young Award, 49 All-Star appearances, 24 Silver Slugger Awards and 10 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. There was also a Hall of Famer in the group. CC Sabathia was the West captain. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025. Sabathia was a World Series Champion in 2009, won a Cy Young in 2007 and was a six-time All-Star. Sabathia admitted while he and the other former big leaguers still have competitive juices that flow every now and then, the arms and legs don’t move as fast as they used to.
“We’re old, man,” Sabathia said. “People just trying not to get hurt. It’s fun. I keep joking we’re gonna turn this into a kickball game one of these years. But it’s ben a lot of fun to put this on.”
But inside every one of these men is a heart that loves the game just as much as it did when these guys picked up a baseball for the very first time. Part of their mission Thursday was to share the love of the game with the fans, old and young alike. And there were a lot of both enjoying the action.
“It’s very important for the community and the kids to rub elbows with some of the great guys who have retired,” Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson said. “And now they’re coming back and giving back and sharing time in Birmingham with the people of Birmingham.”
For the Hairstons, it was a family reunion. Birmingham’s Jerry Hairston Sr. played 14 seasons in the big leagues and was a coach for seven years in the White Sox organization. His dad Sam was a Negro Leagues All-Star and appeared in four games with the White Sox. Jerry’s sons, Jerry Jr. and Scott played a combined 27 big league seasons. Jerry Jr. has a World Series from his 2009 season with the Yankees. The Hairstons are one of five known families to have three generations play in the big leagues.
“Just stepping in that batter’s box and knowing my dad was right here,” Jerry Hairston Sr. said. “Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson, even Babe Ruth played here. So having that feeling being in this park. It’s really near and dear to me.”
Prince Fielder successfully defended his Home Run Derby title, sending several moon shots over the roof in right field. Winning Home Run Derbys is nothing new to Fielder. He won the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby in 2009 and 2012.