Today, the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to officially celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first all-minority lineup to take the field in Major League Baseball history. The day will consist of a special event at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center that includes a panel discussion with members of the historic lineup, an unveiling of an exclusive art piece, an auction of signed replica jerseys from members of the panel and more.

On Sept. 1, 1971, the Pirates proudly became the first MLB franchise to field a starting lineup that consisted of all Black and Latino players as the team hosted the Philadelphia Phillies (a 10-7 win). The all-minority starting nine broke one of the most significant racial barriers in baseball since Jackie Robinson’s historical Major League debut 24 years prior. The nine players in the lineup were: Rennie Stennett (2B), Gene Clines (CF), Roberto Clemente (RF), Willie Stargell (LF), Manny Sanguillen (C), Dave Cash (3B), Al Oliver (1B), Jackie Hernandez (SS), and Dock Ellis (RHP).

The Pirates will celebrate this historic moment in sports history by hosting an in-depth panel discussion tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Senator John Heinz History Center. The panel will feature four members of the historic lineup including Cash, Clines, Oliver and Sanguillen, along with Roberto Clemente Jr. KDKA Radio talent Rick Dayton will host the hour-long discussion and fans are encouraged to tune-in to the live stream on Pirates.com/allminority and the Pirates Facebook page.

“This is an incredible day for the organization and for the entirety of Major League Baseball,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “While we are always honored to celebrate the rich history of our Club, this moment and this day means so much more in Pittsburgh. This lineup broke so many barriers in baseball and, most significantly, normalized equality in our game. We cannot express enough how proud we are of these players. This night will be the special recognition they deserve.”

The private event will begin with a VIP reception for guests of the Pirates and the History Center; the panel discussion is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will conclude in time for the Pirates 8:10 p.m. game in Chicago vs the White Sox. On the field in Chicago, the Pirates and White Sox will wear special tees during batting practice to commemorate the anniversary of the event. The tees are adorned with the 50th anniversary logo and the historic lineup

In addition, during the night’s event the Pirates and the Heinz History Center will unveil a unique piece of art that commemorates the first all-minority lineup, prominently featuring the likeness of all nine players. The piece, created by digital artist and illustrator Robert Bruno, was commissioned by the Pirates, and will be donated to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum to be on display as part of a long-term exhibit.

“We are honored to host this event and tell this important story in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum,” said Anne Madarasz, director of the Sports Museum. “It demonstrates the special role Pittsburghers have played, not just in sports, but in breaking barriers and engaging with issues of freedom and equality for all people.”

In honor of today’s celebration, Pirates Charities is auctioning off replica 1971 jerseys autographed by tonight’s four participating players. The jerseys will be available for auction at pirates.com/allminority and will take place now through Monday, September 6 at 5 p.m.

All proceeds from this auction will support the Pirates RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program which operates with a mission to increase participation and diversity in the games of baseball and softball with a focus on the underserved and under-represented. Over 1,500 boys and girls ages 9-18 participate in the Pirates RBI with funding support from Pirates Charities.