For the first time, two historically Black colleges and universities will play a baseball game under the lights at Wrigley Field.The Prairie View A&M University Panthers and the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs are set to meet in the Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic at Wrigley Field May 2, turning the Friendly Confines into a stage for Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball and a celebration of HBCU culture.The game will be played at night following an afternoon Cubs game.The Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic comes with added historical weight given Wrigley Field’s longevity. When Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, he played at Wrigley during his rookie season. Today, it’s the only existing Major League stadium where Robinson once played.The ballpark also hosted Negro League games before MLB integration.“Our mission is to elevate the next generation of talent and expand opportunity in Black baseball,” said Earnest Horton, CEO of Black Baseball Media and organizer of the event, in a statement. “With the support of the Chicago Cubs, bringing this Classic to Wrigley Field allows us to build a baseball tradition that mirrors the decades-long impact of the Chicago Football Classic.”Organizers say the baseball event is designed to mirror the energy of longstanding HBCU football classics, with marching band performances and fan programs planned around the game. Youth clinics and community-centered events are also expected in Chicago in the days leading up to the game.
