Martin Luther King Jr. Honors at 1970 East-West Classic
- No video exists, and even those who played struggle to recall details.
- On March 28, 1970, the East-West major League Baseball Classic took place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, a memorial to Dr.
- Players were selected from each of the 24 Major League teams.
The game itself is largely forgotten. No video exists, and even those who played struggle to recall details. But they remember the meaning behind it and the honor of participating in one of Major League Baseball’s most significant games.
On March 28, 1970, the East-West major League Baseball Classic took place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated almost two years earlier.
“I was honored to play there,” Reggie Jackson told MLB.com. He was 23 years old at the time. “It was so special to be a part of that.”
Players were selected from each of the 24 Major League teams. A total of 23 Hall of Famers either played in or coached the game.
Joe DiMaggio and Roy Campanella managed the teams,and coaches included Sandy Koufax,Satchel Paige,Stan Musial,and Larry Doby.
Jackie Robinson and Dr. King’s widow,Coretta Scott King,were among the 31,694 in attendance.
The game originated in the weeks and months following Dr. King’s death in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Players sought a meaningful way to respond to the turmoil.
After consulting with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, they proposed an All-Star game to raise money for the SCLC and a new memorial center for Dr. King in Atlanta.
Initially planned for March 1969, logistical issues delayed the game one year. Once confirmed, players understood this event was unique.
“All of the players were in unison, totally behind it,” Al Downing said of the diverse group of players.