The MLB Little League Classic is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) specialty game played on the Sunday between August 17 and 23 (inclusive) in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the Little League World Series, first contested during the edition of that event. The series is part of MLB's effort to get more children interested in and involved with baseball at a younger age.
Background
After the success of the Fort Bragg Game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in July 2016, reports spread that MLB was planning another similar event in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which is the venue town for the annual Little League World Series and home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, then of Minor League Baseball. Many locals of the area and reporters across the nation thought it was almost impossible due to the size and capacity of Bowman Field, as seating for fewer than 3,000 fans seems much less than ideal for an MLB game. As the reports were dispelled by many, the news faded. However, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch column in early March 2017 stated that MLB was finalizing plans for the game.
On March 9, 2017, MLB officially announced the first MLB Little League Classic, selecting the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals as the participants, and released the following statement:
Prior to the inaugural game, funding from MLB and grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania given to the City of Williamsport provided more than $4 million to improve Bowman Field. These included adding new seats, padding around the infield fence, new irrigation and draining to the field itself, moving the bullpens out beyond the outfield fence, new dugouts closer to home plate, and improved dining areas.
Games and results 2017
The Pirates defeated the Cardinals, 6–3, in the first Classic, played on August 20, 2017. Residents from Lycoming County were eligible to win a very limited number of tickets to the game via a lottery system found on the MLB website. The game was originally scheduled to be a home game for the Pirates; ticket holders for that game were offered a food-and-beverage credit, tickets to another game, or a refund. The Cardinals and Pirates wore special uniforms, including features such as pullover jerseys with bright colors and contrasting sleeves, specially colored caps, and a unique logo that drew design cues from the official logos of both MLB and Little League Baseball. In addition, players were encouraged (although not required) to put nicknames on the jerseys' rear nameplates. These uniforms were worn again by both teams on August 25–27 for Players Weekend, an initiative of MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association that saw all 30 MLB teams wear similar uniforms.
2018 In late September 2017, MLB announced that a second Classic would be held in 2018, between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. On August 19, 2018, the Mets won the second Classic, 8–2. The Phillies had last played at Bowman Field on July 31, 1962, when the team lost to the Williamsport Grays, the Phillies' Eastern League affiliate, in a mid-season exhibition game.
2019 The third Classic was played on August 18, 2019, with the Chicago Cubs defeating the Pirates, 7–1. Chicago's uniforms for the game read "Cubbies" on the front, while Pittsburgh's read "The Burgh".
2021 A year after the postponement of the 2020 game, the 2021 game on August 22, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 3–0, became the first edition contested between American League teams and the fourth overall edition played. The teams were issued uniforms corresponding to the Little League regions they are based in: the Great Lakes Region for Cleveland and the West Region for Los Angeles. Joe Maddon, managing the Angels, had previously managed the Cubs in the 2019 edition of the game.
2022 The fourth edition was announced for August 23, 2020, between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles, and was to be the first Classic with American League teams. The game was cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a Boston–Baltimore matchup in Williamsport later scheduled for 2022. The limited 60-game regular season schedule of the 2020 season did include a four-game series between the Red Sox and Orioles on August 20–23, which was played in its entirety at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox and Orioles, originally scheduled to play during the 2020 season, played the fifth edition of the Classic on August 21, 2022. The teams wore standard uniforms. The Orioles won the game, 5–3, largely powered by a three-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning by Jorge Mateo.
2023 The Washington Nationals hosted the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth Classic on August 20, 2023. The teams again wore standard uniforms. The Nationals jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning, and there was no other scoring until the Phillies scored three times in the ninth inning, for a 4–3 final in favor of Washington.
According to Nielsen, the game averaged 1,556,000 viewers and peaked at 1,738,000 viewers.
2024 The seventh edition of the Classic was held on August 18, 2024, featuring the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. Detroit won in 10 innings, as Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows hit a walk-off single to drive in the winning run. It was the first edition of the Classic to require extra innings.
According to Nielsen, the game averaged 2,169,000 viewers and peaked at 2,369,000 viewers, making it the most watched Little League Classic game to that point.
2025 The eighth edition of the Classic took place on August 17, 2025, featuring the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets in the first Classic interleague game. The Mariners made their first appearance in the Classic, while the Mets made their second, having previously appeared in 2018. The Mets defeated the Mariners 7-3.
2026 The ninth edition of the Classic took place on August 23, 2026, featuring the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. Both teams made their first Little League Classic appearance. The Braves defeated the Brewers 4–2.
2027 The tenth edition of the Classic is scheduled for August 19, 2027, with the Chicago Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays. Like the rest of the 2027 MLB season, the game is contingent on MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) signing a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to replace that one that expires on December 1, 2026.
List of games All games have been part of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball programming with scheduled 7 p.m. ET start times. Season Date Designated visitor Designated home team Attendance Umpires Ref. HP 1B 2B 3B 2017 August 20 St. Louis Cardinals 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 62,596 Davis Drake Hoberg Randazzo 2018 August 19 New York Mets 8 Philadelphia Phillies 22,429 Guccione Rehak Ripperger Davis 2019 August 18 Chicago Cubs 7 Pittsburgh Pirates 12,503 Scheurwater Porter Wegner Barber 2021 August 22 Los Angeles Angels 0 Cleveland Indians 31,832 Bellino Porter Guccione Barber 2022 August 21 Boston Red Sox 3 Baltimore Orioles 52,467 Little Márquez Tichenor Estabrook 2023 August 20 Philadelphia Phillies 3 Washington Nationals 42,473 Barber Porter Wolf Mahrley 2024 August 18 New York Yankees 2 Detroit Tigers 32,532 Gonzalez Tichenor Blaser Ceja 2025 August 17 Seattle Mariners 3 New York Mets 7 2,518 Tomlinson Dreckman Wegner Livensparger 2026 August 23 Atlanta Braves 4 Milwaukee Brewers 22,432 Hamari Vondrak Tichenor Tumpane 2027 Chicago Cubs Toronto Blue JaysTBD Umpire name in bold text denotes crew chief.
Broadcasting Television
The game was televised annually as a part of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, tying into the network's continuing coverage of the Little League World Series. In 2026, ESPN lost Sunday Night Baseball to NBC, but kept the rights to one Sunday night window for the Little League Classic. However, in 2027, MLB decided to move the Little League Classic to a Thursday playdate, in order for NBC to broadcast Sunday Night Baseball.
Season Play-By-Play Analyst(s) Reporter Ref. 2017 Dan Shulman Aaron Boone & Jessica Mendoza Tim Kurkjian 2018 Matt Vasgersian Jessica Mendoza & Alex Rodriguez Buster Olney 2019 2021 Alex Rodriguez 2022 Karl Ravech Eduardo Pérez & David Cone 2023 2024 2025 2026 Eduardo Pérez
Radio As part of the Sunday Night Baseball, and the coverage after all games have been available on ESPN Radio nationwide. Season Play-By-Play Analyst Ref. 2017 Adam Amin Chris Singleton 2018 Mike Couzens Jim Bowden 2019 Chris Singleton 2021 Karl Ravech Tim Kurkjian 2022 Dave O'Brien 2023 Roxy Bernstein Doug Glanville 2024 Mike Couzens 2025 2026 Roxy Bernstein
See also
List of neutral site regular season Major League Baseball games played in the United States and Canada
Notes
References