Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Indians today announced the 2019 All-Star Legacy initiative, which includes several community enrichment projects that will impact thousands of people throughout Greater Cleveland. MLB and the Indians, with support from the City of Cleveland, will donate approximately $5 million to these local projects that will leave a lasting impact throughout the All-Star host’s community as well as with national charitable partners with close ties to baseball. This Midsummer Classic program is an annual effort that began in connection with the 1997 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland.

The 2019 All-Star Legacy effort features improvements to youth baseball/softball playing fields & facilities, a local Boys & Girls Club, and a Student Veterans Center at Baldwin Wallace University. The various All-Star Legacy projects will be unveiled leading up to the 90th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. Since 1997, MLB and host All-Star Clubs have donated approximately $90 million through the All-Star Legacy initiative.

2019 All-Star Legacy Projects

All-Star Student Veterans Center at Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, Ohio) – MLB and the Indians will transform both levels of the university-owned, single-family home into a new Student Veterans Center, which will provide support to student body veterans of U.S. Military Service currently studying at Baldwin Wallace University. The new facility will include quiet rooms, lounge areas, a full kitchen, bathrooms, and a gaming area.

All-Star Field at Luke Easter Park (Cleveland, Ohio) – In association and with financial support from the City of Cleveland, MLB and the Indians will renovate Field #7 at Luke Easter Park. Refurbishments will include installation of turf, which will ensure safe play despite poor weather, as well as the installation of new dugouts and bleachers, both of which will include new shade structures. Renovations will facilitate daily play for youth baseball and softball organizations in the area.

Talty Field at Cleveland Metroparks Brookside Reservation (Cleveland, Ohio) – In association and with financial support from the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Metroparks, MLB and the Indians will completely renovate Talty Field in the Brookside Reservation. This project will include a new, completely artificially-turfed field, which will be utilized by the Cleveland Baseball Federation RBI teams and become a premier site to host “PLAY BALL,” “Pitch, Hit & Run,” and “Jr. Home Run Derby” events, in addition to other special baseball or softball events and clinics.

All-Star Digital Arts Suite at Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland’s East Tech Teen Center (Cleveland, Ohio) – This project will fully renovate the digital arts suite at the Boys & Girls Club location out of East Technical High School, installing a sound recording studio with brand-new equipment, a collaborative workspace stocked with Mac desktop computers, and a vibrant lounge area. The site, which will be utilized by students at East Technical High School and members of local Boys and Girls Clubs, will be instrumental in helping retention rates both at the high school and at the local Boys and Girls Club.

In addition, MLB and the Indians will refurbish Larry Doby All-Star Playground (Cleveland, Ohio) as part of the general community outreach during All-Star Week. Originally constructed during the inaugural year of the All-Star Legacy effort during the 1997 All-Star Week in Cleveland, the Larry Doby All-Star Playground will be renovated to include updated equipment and refurbished flooring. Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland - King Kennedy Club and youth in the nearby community will be able to use the Playground as a daily recreational outlet.

“The City of Cleveland is significant to the history of our All-Star Legacy initiative, as we launched the very first Legacy effort in 1997,” said Melanie LeGrande, vice president of social responsibility. “Baseball remains committed to strengthening local communities, and we could not be more excited to launch these four special projects that will leave a lasting imprint and have a positive impact on the people of Greater Cleveland for years to come. We are grateful for our partners in this endeavor, specifically the Indians organization, as without them, this would not be possible.”

“Our city’s youth are poised to benefit most from the many enrichment projects announced as part of the 2019 All-Star Legacy Initiative,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “From investments in parks infrastructure to other improvements around the city, we thank MLB and the Cleveland Indians for not only bringing the 2019 All-Star game to Cleveland but for investing in our neighborhoods and its citizens.”

“I’m extremely grateful for the resources put into these community parks through MLB, the Indians and the All Star week,” said Council President Kevin J. Kelley. ”These new fields will be used for generations to come. All Star week will be a great event for Cleveland, and will bring a lasting impact to the community.”

The full scope of All-Star Week community and youth programs and events, including non-All-Star Legacy projects and other initiatives, will be announced at a later date.

For general MLB All-Star Week information, please visit AllStarGame.com, the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard Twitter account (@AllStarGame) and All-Star Game presented by Mastercard Facebook account (Facebook.com/MLBAllStarGame).