Following are the key details surrounding the ceremonial, community schedule and partnership activations for the 2024 “HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation”. The game itself will be played on Friday, July 12^th at Globe Life Field, beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET, LIVE on MLB Network, MLB.tv, MLB.com, and the MLB app..

Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic, which includes a variety of performance elements inspired by HBCU culture at Globe Life Field, are on-sale at AllStarGame.com/Swingman. Proceeds from the sale 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.

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

HBCU Fair, Globe Life Field Concourse (Near North Entry) – In partnership together, YDF and Griffey Jr. are excited to host an HBCU Fair at Globe Life Field prior to the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the YDF. The fair will be held on the concourse of Globe Life Field from 4:30-6:30 p.m.. Students, families, and community leaders can look forward to meeting with recruiters and alumni groups from HBCUs as well as Divine 9 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:

Savannah State University

Wiley University

Talladega College

Alcorn State University

Texas Southern University

Tuskegee University

Florida A&M University

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Prairie View A&M University

Spelman College

Paul Quinn College

North Carolina A&T State University

Langston University

Stillman College

Clark Atlanta University

Tougaloo College

Grambling State University

Southern University

EICOP

The HBCU Project

Participating Divine Nine organizations include:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated

Black Sports Professionals: Get in the Game Panel (July 12 | Globe Life Field – Karbach Sky Porch | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.) – Join Black Sports Professionals North Texas and the National Black MBA Association Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter on Friday, July 12 from 5-7 p.m. for an open and interactive conversation about the intersection of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the sports industry. More information: #BSPNTX & NBMBAA DFW Present Get in the Game! HBCUs + Career Opportunities in Sports

HBCU Swingman Classic Player Activities – HBCU Swingman Classic players will participate in a variety of educational, philanthropic and wellness activities throughout the weekend:

High Performance Leadership Workshop powered by the Texas Rangers and Abilene Christian University (ACU) – On Friday morning, the Swingman players will have a discussion on personal growth, embracing leadership, mental well-being and performance skills. The workshop will be led by Dr. Nicole Linen (Texas Rangers Team Psychologist & Certified Mental Performance Coach), Dr. Daryl L. Jones (Vice President, Sports Leadership & Learning, ACU), and Ben Baroody (Texas Rangers Director of Leadership, Organizational Development & Mental Wellness).

“The Suit Up Experience” – On Saturday, players will participate in a pop-up “Suit Up Experience, presented by the Dallas-based Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center. The initiative provides young men ages 15-24 with head-to-toe care – and a tangible boost of confidence – as they receive suits, ties, shoes, socks and haircuts. As part of the day-long experience, the young men also receive a wealth of information and mentoring, covering everything from etiquette and grooming tips, wardrobe styling, and shoeshine and tie-tying tutorials, to financial literacy, career readiness, vehicle maintenance, healthy living, mental health, and more.

Swingman Classic Community Service – Swingman players will participate in two community service-focused activities at Capital One All-Star Village & PLAY BALL Park. The first is an activity with Foster Love through which they will assemble care packages for children at a local foster care agency. By building awareness and volunteer opportunities, Foster Love hopes to better the lives of children in foster care and provide them with a sense of normalcy and comfort through a turbulent time in their lives. Second, the Swingman players will participate in a youth baseball clinic for kids on the PLAY BALL Park Diamond.

“MLB Voices” Play-by-Play Broadcast Initiative – In an effort to broaden the voices delivering baseball to all fans and level the playing field, Major League Baseball, in collaboration with the Black Play-by-Play Grant & Scholarship Fund has launched the MLB Voices Program. This initiative aims to develop and grow the next generation of play-by-play talent in baseball. Participants selected for this program will gain hands-on opportunities to call play-by-play for select MLB Develops events. Additionally, they will benefit from mentorship and guidance from experienced voices in the baseball broadcasting industry. Over the course of the 7-month program, participants will exit with tangible copies of high-level television broadcast tape, enhancing their professional reels. They will also establish meaningful connections within MLB and are highlighting their experience with a capstone visit to MLB All-Star Week. The visit will encompass shadow opportunities and participation in various events, including the HBCU Swingman Classic and All-Star Futures Game.

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.

Chevrolet

“Discover The Unexpected” (DTU) – For the second year, Chevrolet, the official vehicle 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

Getty Images HBCU Mentorship Program – MLB and Getty Images will again invite two mentees from Getty Images’ HBCU Photographer Mentorship and Grants Program and one HBCU student photographer for a unique opportunity to photograph the Swingman 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 Emmanuel Durojaiye (Morgan State University), Marcus Plummer (Grambling State University), and Jamea Beavers (Spelman College).

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

Nike

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

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

HBCU-Inspired Ceremonial, Anthem & Game Details

First Pitch Ceremony – In recent celebrations and integration of the Negro Leagues statistics into the Major League record books, Sean Gibson, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Family Alliance and great grandson of Hall of Famer & Negro Leagues legend Josh Gibson, will throw the ceremonial first pitch of the HBCU Swingman Classic.

Recently, YDF announced a $500k grant to the Negro Leagues Family Alliance in celebration of MLB at Rickwood Field, A Tribute to the Negro Leagues

HBCU Band Showcase – Texas Southern’s “Ocean of Soul” will perform pregame, in-game and post-game, thrilling the Globe Life Crowd with the vibrant sounds of HBCU culture.

In celebration of TSU’s participation, MLB will provide an honorarium of $10,000 to “Ocean of Soul.”

NOTE: Regrettably, Prairie View A&M’s “Marching Storm” is no longer able to attend due to the impact of Tropical Storm Beryl.

National Anthem & “Life Every Voice and Sing – Twenty-time Grammy winning artist and music icon Kirk Franklin will perform both renditions.

National Pan-Hellenic “Divine Nine” Ring of Honor & Unity Step – During pregame ceremonies, 10 representatives from each of the “Divine Nine” Black Greek-letter organizations will surround the infield. Additionally, three representatives will perform on each dugout with a step routine that will feature individual customized performances, to be followed by a joint performance as a sign of unity and strength among the organizations.

Opal Lee & “PLAY BALL!” – Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” will announce “Play Ball!” prior to the start of the game.

In-ballpark DJ – DJ Blast – Divine Nine Fraternity Member, Dallas Native & 2023 HBCU Swingman DJ – will once again 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.

PA Announcer – Pinch-hitting for regular Rangers PA announcer Chuck Morgan is Marque Denmon, who is the SWAC Baseball Public Address Announcer.

Pregame In-ballpark Host – Chris Arnold (Dallas Mavericks Host & Emcee, Divine Nine Fraternity Member, and Texas Black Sports Hall of Famer) will serve as the pregame host within the ballpark.

Umpiring Crew – The HBCU Swingman Classic will feature an all-black umpire crew (all of whom regularly work SWAC college baseball games. These include *Derrick Everett (HP), Eric Goshay* (1B), Kevin Bradley (2B), Joe Smith* (3B)**.

\ indicates working the 2023 HBCU Swingman Classic*

Additional Broadcast Details

MLB Network Broadcast Team – Analyst & two-time Mariners All-Star Harold Reynolds, Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims, and Emily Haydel (granddaughter of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron) as the sideline reporter. Griffey Jr. will join the broadcast from each dugout throughout the game.