Major League Baseball recently announced a 'significant' change in its regular season schedule of inter-league baseball gamnes.
The 2009 Civil Rights Game will be hosted by the Cincinnati Reds, at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati,Ohio. They will play against the Chicago White Sox on June 20, 2009.
The Civil Rights Game had its inaugural opening in March,2007, at the Autozone Stadium ( a minor-league baseball complex) in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Redbirds, a minor league team owned by the St. Louis Cardinals. While Autozone is a fine ballpark, other concerns demanded that MLB change its site. In fact, MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, stated that the Civil Rights Game would be played there "forever". Well, so much for hyperbole.
The timing for the game was a logistic nightmare! (1) NAACP college basketball tourney--Elite 8, no less; (2) inclimate weather,ie, cold and rainy; interruption of MLB 'Spring Training; the World Baseball Classic. ll of these event conspired to keep attendance low and $$$ cofers tight.
At a recent news conference, Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB executive vice-president, announced a new host city. He also indicated that the decision to choose Cincinnati (among several locations) was the presence of her National Underground Railroad Freedom Centerand the city's part in fighting slavery. Both were influential in the final decision. Also, the month of June is much better for playing baseball, than the month of March. No more 'March Madness' to contend with.
The Chicago White Sox will make a very formidable foe, having also played in the 2008 CRG. When interview last season, White Sox GM, Ken Williams, stated the following: "The role baseball has played in promoting civil rights and cultural change in this country has great personal significance for me and many other members of the White Sox organization'. He added' "Baseball's history and tradition need to be remembered, celebrated and constantly re-evaluated by everyone connected to the game, (and) the Civil Rights Game provides us all with an annual opportunity to do just that....".
The 2009 Civil Rights Game will be hosted by the Cincinnati Reds, at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati,Ohio. They will play against the Chicago White Sox on June 20, 2009.
The Civil Rights Game had its inaugural opening in March,2007, at the Autozone Stadium ( a minor-league baseball complex) in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Redbirds, a minor league team owned by the St. Louis Cardinals. While Autozone is a fine ballpark, other concerns demanded that MLB change its site. In fact, MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, stated that the Civil Rights Game would be played there "forever". Well, so much for hyperbole.
The timing for the game was a logistic nightmare! (1) NAACP college basketball tourney--Elite 8, no less; (2) inclimate weather,ie, cold and rainy; interruption of MLB 'Spring Training; the World Baseball Classic. ll of these event conspired to keep attendance low and $$$ cofers tight.
At a recent news conference, Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB executive vice-president, announced a new host city. He also indicated that the decision to choose Cincinnati (among several locations) was the presence of her National Underground Railroad Freedom Centerand the city's part in fighting slavery. Both were influential in the final decision. Also, the month of June is much better for playing baseball, than the month of March. No more 'March Madness' to contend with.
The Chicago White Sox will make a very formidable foe, having also played in the 2008 CRG. When interview last season, White Sox GM, Ken Williams, stated the following: "The role baseball has played in promoting civil rights and cultural change in this country has great personal significance for me and many other members of the White Sox organization'. He added' "Baseball's history and tradition need to be remembered, celebrated and constantly re-evaluated by everyone connected to the game, (and) the Civil Rights Game provides us all with an annual opportunity to do just that....".
