MLB Little League Classic
Venue	Bowman Field
Locations	Williamsport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Years active	2017–19, 2021–present
Inaugurated	August 20, 2017
Previous event	August 17, 2025
Next event	TBA[a]
Participants	Seattle Mariners,New York Mets (2025)
Organized by	Major League Baseball
Sponsor	GEICO (2018–23) New York Life (2024–25)

TheMLB Little League Classic is an annualMajor League Baseball (MLB)specialty game played on the Sunday between August 17 and 23 (inclusive) inWilliamsport, Pennsylvania, during theLittle League World Series, first contested during the2017 edition of that event.^[1] The series is part of MLB's effort to get more children interested in and involved with baseball at a younger age.^[2]

After the success of theFort Bragg Game between theMiami Marlins andAtlanta Braves atFort Bragg,North Carolina, in July 2016, reports spread that MLB was planning another similar event inWilliamsport, Pennsylvania, which is the venue town for the annualLittle League World Series and home to theWilliamsport Crosscutters, then ofMinor League Baseball. Many locals of the area and reporters across the nation thought it was almost impossible due to the size and capacity ofBowman Field, as seating for fewer than 3,000 fans seems much less than ideal for an MLB game. As the reports were dispelled by many, the news faded. However, aSt. Louis Post-Dispatch column in early March 2017 stated that MLB was finalizing plans for the game.^[3]

On March 9, 2017, MLB officially announced the first MLB Little League Classic, selecting thePittsburgh Pirates andSt. Louis Cardinals as the participants,^[4][5] and released the following statement:^[6]

Major League Baseball's greatest responsibility is to ensure that today's youth become active participants in our game as players and fans. The 'MLB Little League Classic' exemplifies our entire sport's commitment to building a stronger connection between young people and the National Pastime. Our players will honor the great tradition of the Little League World Series and create lifelong memories for the Little Leaguers, their families and the city of Williamsport. I thank the Pirates and the Cardinals, Little League Baseball,Governor Wolf, the Crosscutters, the City of Williamsport, and ESPN for helping us organize an unforgettable weekend.

Prior to the inaugural game, funding from MLB and grants from theCommonwealth of Pennsylvania given to the City of Williamsport provided more than $4 million to improve Bowman Field. These included adding new seats, padding around the infield fence, new irrigation and draining to the field itself, moving thebullpens out beyond the outfield fence, newdugouts closer tohome plate, and improved dining areas.^[7]

The Pirates defeated the Cardinals, 6–3, in the first Classic, played on August 20, 2017.^[9] Residents fromLycoming County were eligible to win a very limited number of tickets to the game via a lottery system found on the MLB website.^[10] The game was originally scheduled to be a home game for the Pirates; ticket holders for that game were offered a food-and-beverage credit, tickets to another game, or a refund.^[11] The Cardinals and Pirates wore special uniforms, including features such as pullover jerseys with bright colors and contrasting sleeves, specially colored caps, and a unique logo that drew design cues from the official logos of both MLB and Little League Baseball. In addition, players were encouraged (although not required) to put nicknames on the jerseys' rear nameplates. These uniforms were worn again by both teams on August 25–27 forPlayers Weekend, an initiative of MLB and theMajor League Baseball Players Association that saw all 30 MLB teams wear similar uniforms.^[12]

In late September 2017, MLB announced that a second Classic would be held in 2018, between theNew York Mets andPhiladelphia Phillies.^[13] On August 19, 2018, the Mets won the second Classic, 8–2.^[14] The Phillies had last played at Bowman Field on July 31, 1962, when the team lost to theWilliamsport Grays, the Phillies'Eastern League affiliate, in a mid-season exhibition game.^[15]

The third Classic was played on August 18, 2019,^[16] with theChicago Cubs defeating the Pirates, 7–1.^[17] Chicago's uniforms for the game read "Cubbies" on the front, while Pittsburgh's read "The Burgh".^[18]

A year after the postponement of the 2020 game, the 2021 game on August 22, theCleveland Indians defeated theLos Angeles Angels, 3–0, became the first edition contested between American League teams and the fourth overall edition played.^[19][20] The teams were issued uniforms corresponding to the Little League regions they are based in: theGreat Lakes Region for Cleveland and theWest Region for Los Angeles.^[21]Joe Maddon, managing the Angels, had previously managed the Cubs in the 2019 edition of the game.^[22]

The fourth edition was announced for August 23, 2020, between theBoston Red Sox and theBaltimore Orioles,^[23] and was to be the first Classic withAmerican League teams. The game was cancelled,^[24] due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,^[25] with a Boston–Baltimore matchup in Williamsport later scheduled for 2022.^[26] The limited 60-game regular season schedule of the 2020 season did include a four-game series between the Red Sox and Orioles on August 20–23, which was played in its entirety atOriole Park at Camden Yards.^[27]

The Red Sox and Orioles, originally scheduled to play during the 2020 season, played the fifth edition of the Classic on August 21, 2022.^[26] The teams wore standard uniforms. The Orioles won the game, 5–3, largely powered by a three-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning byJorge Mateo.^[28]

TheWashington Nationals hosted thePhiladelphia Phillies in the sixth Classic on August 20, 2023.^[29] The teams again wore standard uniforms. The Nationals jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning, and there was no other scoring until the Phillies scored three times in the ninth inning, for a 4–3 final in favor of Washington.^[30]

The seventh edition of the Classic was held on August 18, 2024, featuring theDetroit Tigers andNew York Yankees.^[31] Detroit won in 10 innings, as Tigers center fielderParker Meadows hit a walk-off single to drive in the winning run.^[32] It was the first edition of the Classic to requireextra innings.

The eighth edition of the Classic took place on August 17, 2025, featuring theSeattle Mariners and theNew York Mets in the first Classicinterleague game. The Mariners made their first appearance in the Classic, while the Mets made their second, having previously appeared in 2018.^[33] The Mets defeated the Mariners 7-3.^[34]

All games have been part ofESPN'sSunday Night Baseball programming with scheduled 7 p.m.ET start times.

† Umpire name in bold text denotes crew chief.

The game has been televised annually as an edition ofESPN'sSunday Night Baseball; this creates a further synergy with the Little League World Series, as it is also televised by ESPN.

As part ofSunday Night Baseball, all games have been available onESPN Radio nationwide.

• List of neutral site regular season Major League Baseball games played in the United States and Canada

• Baseball in Pennsylvania
• Recurring sporting events established in 2017
• Annual events in Major League Baseball

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