Ceremonial, community & partner activation details for the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation

Following are the key details surrounding the ceremonial, community schedule and partnership activations for the inaugural “HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation”. The game itself will be played on Friday, July 7^th at T-Mobile Park, beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET, LIVE on MLB Network and SiriusXM.

Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile, which includes a post-game firework show at T-Mobile Park, are now on-sale at AllStarGame.com. Proceeds from the sale of each $10 ticket for GA seating will benefit the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (YDF), a joint initiative by MLB and MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally.

MLB, MLBPA, and the YDF alongside Hall of Famer & YDF Ambassador Ken Griffey Jr. collaborated to create an HBCU-inspired experience in and around T-Mobile Park, inclusive of the following:

HBCU-Inspired Ceremonial, Anthem & Game Details

• First Pitch Ceremony – Griffey Jr. will join an exemplary collection of HBCU Legends for the first pitch ceremony, including fellow Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, College Baseball Hall of Famer & Legendary HBCU coach Roger Cador, College Baseball Hall of Famer & Southern University alumnus Rickie Weeks Jr., and former Atlanta Braves All-Star outfielder/HBCU alumnus/coach/scout Ralph Garr.

• Prior to the first pitch, members of the Negro Leagues Family Alliance will be recognized on-field.

• National Anthem – Will be performed by Todd Dulaney, Grammy-nominated gospel artist and former Minor Leaguer.

• “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – Will be performed by Songs of Black Folk Celebration Chorus – a Seattle city-wide choir formed from several local Black Churches.

• Directed by Maestro Ramón Bryant Braxton, product of the Black Church and HBCU experience (Morehouse College & Morgan State University).

• Performed by an intergenerational Choral group of 40 gifted African American singers from the Puget Sound Community.

• PA Announcer – Pinch-hitting for regular Mariners PR announce Tom Hutyler is Marque Denmon, who is the SWAC Baseball Public Address Announcer.

• Pregame Drumline Performance – The Dolls & Gents Drumline and Drill Team will perform during pregame under the direction of HBCU graduates of Jackson State University, Southern University and Tougaloo College.

• Dolls & Gents will provide a bed of music for player introductions and will perform on dugouts during two inning breaks.

• Pregame & In-Game DJ – DJ Blast will perform a set while gates are open until the pregame ceremonies begin. Additionally, DJ Blast will be featured in-game playing music reminiscent of The Divine Nine.

• Game Start Time – Will begin at 7:42 in homage to the great Jackie Robinson and Griffey Jr.’s influence on MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day and players wearing Jackie’s #42.

• Post-Game Fireworks – Fireworks show will play over a custom soundtrack of songs selected by Griffey Jr.

Several partners are leaning into the spirit of the overall event with several meaningful activations, including:

T-Mobile

• Impact Award – During the HBCU Swingman Classic, a participating athlete will receive the “T-Mobile Impact Award,” honoring their leadership and commitment to being an impactful member of their community on and off the field.
• In early 2024, T-Mobile will host a HBCU Athlete Summit for a group of student-athletes who participated in the 2023 HBCU Swingman Classic. Student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a multi-day summit filled with panel discussions, roundtable talks, and networking opportunities with T-Mobile HBCU alumni, executive leaders and former student-athletes. They will get a peek behind the scenes of T-Mobile and have opportunities to explore various career paths – inspiring them to dream big.

Nike

• Nike is the uniform and apparel sponsor of the HBCU Swingman Classic, providing all uniforms, cleats and workout apparel for players and coaches.

Chevrolet

• “Discover The Unexpected” (DTU) – Chevrolet, a long-time sponsor of MLB, welcomes DTU fellows to the HBCU Swingman Classic. These HBCU students will provide a behind-the-scenes documentation of their experience of this event, including interviewing HBCU Swingman Classic players.

• DTU is a Chevrolet brand-building partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), reinforcing their long-standing relationship with the Black community. DTU provides students from HBCUs an immersive internship jumpstarting their careers in Marketing and Journalism while being change agents in their local communities.

Getty Images

• HBCU Photographer Mentorship & Grants Program – MLB will expand its partnership with Getty Images by inviting two mentees from Getty Images’ HBCU Photographer Mentorship and Grants Program and one HBCU student photographer for a unique opportunity to photograph the Classic and surrounding events. Getty Images will also curate a photo exhibit showcasing HBCU traditions, sports, and culture inside player lounge spaces of the hotel. Participants for this program include Qwest Courtney (Prairie View A&M 2023 graduate), Jewel Champbell (Morgan State University 2023 graduate), and Jorden Dixon (rising senior at Clark Atlanta University).

• Additional details about the Getty Images Photo Archive Grant Program can be found here:
  https://grants.gettyimages.com/en/grants/hbcu-grant

Following are several philanthropic, educational and business-focused efforts specifically designed around the HBCU Swingman Classic:

• HBCU Fair – In partnership, YDF, Griffey Jr., and the United Negro College Fund Seattle are excited to host an HBCU Fair at T-Mobile Park from 5:00-7:30pm. Students, families, and community leaders can look forward to meeting with recruiters and alumni groups from HBCUs as well as Divine Nine sororities and fraternities. High school and transfer students are encouraged to bring the following to the fair: resume, personal statement, and unofficial transcripts. Please note that an HBCU Swingman Classic ticket is required for entry to the HBCU Fair.

Participating Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) include:

• Elizabeth City State University
• Florida A&M University
• Grambling University National Alumni Association Puget Sound Chapter
• Howard University Alumni Club of Greater Seattle
• Morehouse College
• Southern University Alumni Federation
• Tuskegee University
• Alabama A&M University
• Prairie View A&M University

Participating Divine Nine organizations include:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha
• Kappa Alpha Psi
• Omega Psi Phi
• Delta Sigma Theta
• Phi Beta Sigma
• Zeta Phi Beta
• Sigma Gamma Rho

• Donation to United Negro College Fund & NPHC Seattle Chapter – MLB’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team will make a financial contribution of $15,000 to the United Negro College Fund Seattle and $15,000 to NPHC Seattle Chapter. There will be a check presentation pregame on the field.

• Black Play-by-Play Grant and Scholarship Fund – MLB will invite two aspiring Black Play-by-Play announcers who are currently enrolled in college and also are scholarship recipients of the Black Play-by-Play Grant and Scholarship Fund. While in Seattle, they will have the opportunity to meet with current Major League Play-by-Play announcers, shadow various aspects of the broadcast (booth, truck, sideline), and attend two All-Star Weekend events (inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic and SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game).

Black-owned Vendors at T-Mobile Park – Four local Black-owned vendors will have pre-packaged goods sold in the ballpark, including:

• Chaztown Beef Jerky
• Shikorina Pastry
• Marjorie’s Plantain Chips
• Lanier’s Fine Candies

• HBCU Swingman Classic Player Activities – HBCU Swingman Classic players will participate in a variety of activities throughout the week:

• Educational Leadership Panel – featuring Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims, Cito Gaston, Cador and more.

• Leadership, Career Development and Philanthropic Conversation – During a special luncheon, the Swingman Classic players will hear from Seattle Mariners Chairman John Stanton.

• PLAY BALL Park – Players will serve as clinicians at All-Star Week’s PLAY BALL Park helping young children learn the basics of baseball and softball.

Additional Broadcast Details

• MLB Network Broadcast Team – Analyst & two-time Mariners All-Star Harold Reynolds, Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims, and HBCU Sports Journalist Symone Stanley as the sideline reporter. Griffey Jr. will join the broadcast from each dugout throughout the game.