After Cincinnati sells out the 2009 Civil Rights Game and puts on a thought-provoking event, baseball officials discuss moving it to different cities in 2011 and beyond.
After Cincinnati sells out the 2009 Civil Rights Game and puts on a thought-provoking event, baseball officials discuss moving it to different cities in 2011 and beyond.
This was the first year the Civil Rights Game was played during the regular season — it was been played the past two seasons as an exhibition game at Memphis's AutoZone Park, an effort tirelessly pushed by the Redbirds' Dave Chase — and by all accounts players and fans appreciated the emphasis on history and accomplishments.
While nothing is finalized, what's being discussed in holding several other Civil Rights Games in other markets, giving each MLB team a chance to highlight the civil-rights struggle and honor pioneers in the field. While we're not sure it will be a mandatory event for every MLB team, expanding the program would expand the message — and while baseball has not always been a pioneer in this area, an event like the Civil Rights Game certainly is a massive step in the right direction.
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