Hall of Fame Partners with Ebbets Field Flannels for East-West Classic Apparel
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The celebration of Black baseball in Cooperstown this Memorial Day Weekend will feature authentic uniforms honoring the legendary players and teams of the Negro Leagues.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has partnered with Ebbets Field Flannels to outfit Hall of Famers and former MLB stars participating in the Hall of Fame East-West Classic: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Game on May 25 at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. The personalized replica wool jersey tops will represent nine iconic Negro Leagues teams: American Giants, Baltimore Elite Giants, Birmingham Barons, Detroit Stars, Homestead Grays, Indianapolis Clowns, Kansas City Monarchs, Newark Eagles and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
“This is such an important relationship for Ebbets Field Flannels as we celebrate the history of the Negro Leagues through our support of The Hall of Fame East-West Classic,” said Matt Sabato, president of Ebbets Field Flannels. “It’s an honor to be associated with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the greatest players to ever put on a uniform.”
The Hall of Fame East-West Classic uniforms will include a sleeve patch with the game logo. Game-worn player jerseys will be auctioned off by MLB following the game, with the net proceeds being donated to the Hall of Fame to support the institution’s mission. A limited number of jerseys with patch sleeve logos will also be available for purchase through the Hall of Fame’s Museum Store, with sales benefitting the Hall of Fame’s mission.
“We are proud to partner with Ebbets Field Flannels, which shares the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s steadfast commitment to accurately representing the history of the game,” said Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch. “The stitch-by-stitch accuracy of the jerseys at The Hall of Fame East-West Classic is a fitting tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Stars whom we are all honored to celebrate on and off the field during East-West Classic Weekend.”
Ebbets Field Flannels designed and is providing unique “East” and “West” team caps for participants to wear on-field. With designs inspired by those worn in the Negro Leagues, caps will be available for sale via Ebbets Field Flannels and the Hall of Fame’s Museum Store, with sales benefitting the Hall of Fame’s mission.
Since its founding more than 35 years ago, Ebbets Field Flannels has been dedicated to faithful reproductions of vintage apparel with a focus on baseball.
Presented by Boeing and fueled by assistance from Major League Baseball, the Hall of Fame East-West Classic rosters will consist of more than two dozen former big leaguers, including Josh Barfield, Tim Beckham, José Contreras, Ian Desmond, Prince Fielder, Dexter Fowler, Doug Glanville, Curtis Granderson, Tony Gwynn Jr., Jerry Hairston, Scott Hairston, LaTroy Hawkins, Ryan Howard, Edwin Jackson, Jeremy Jeffress, Adam Jones, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Darrell Miller, Melvin Mora, David Price, Tyson Ross, Tony Sipp, Dee Strange-Gordon, B.J. Upton and Justin Upton. Little League World Series hero Mo’ne Davis will also join the roster of players.
A dozen Hall of Famers whose careers cover the pre-expansion era to the present day will return to Cooperstown on Memorial Day Weekend to celebrate the history of Black baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s groundbreaking new exhibit The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball. Hall of Famers scheduled to appear as managers and coaches for The Hall of Fame East-West Classic teams include Harold Baines, Rollie Fingers, Ken Griffey Jr., Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Fred McGriff, Eddie Murray, Jim Rice, Lee Smith, Ozzie Smith, Joe Torre and Dave Winfield.
Harold Reynolds of MLB Network and Mets’ World Series hero Mookie Wilson will join the rosters as honorary team members and former Kansas City Monarchs star Sam Allen joins Pedro Sierra as Negro Leaguers who will attend the East-West Classic.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame East-West Classic are on sale now at baseballhall.org/east-west or at 1-888-325-0470 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.