Michigan Baseball in rematch at Vanderbilt this Sunday in an exhibition game honoring diversity (ESPN3, 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST)
Game info: Mich/Vandy baseball exhibition, ESPN 3, 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.
The teams will be playing as the former Negro League teams the Nashville Stars and the Detroit Stars and will have special uniforms designed in conjunction with Nike and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Link for info (I couldn't find any listings on mgoblue.com): https://vucommodores.com/david-williams-fall-classic/
The game is called the David Williams Classic, after Vanderbilt's first black vice chancellor, who died this year. I didn't know his story before, but per his obituary, he led racial reconciliation efforts with Vanderbilt pioneers, created an institute for research on the interface of sports and society, improved student athlete performance and, uh, hired James Franklin (who was excellent there).
Personal: As a black U-M alum who is especially passionate about baseball (still runnin' with the whippersnappers at age 42 in my hardball rec league, still coaching my son's LL and travel team), I was thrilled to hear about this. As was much discussed during the CWS broadcasts, both teams -- especially Bakich and Michigan -- have made a commitment to diversity in baseball recruiting, and it has paid off big dividends.
Seeing a healthy number of players of color on both teams' rosters was one of the many, many highlights of watching the CWS, along with seeing Isaiah Page and Kumar Rocker, two young black men, face each other as starters in game 2 (way to hang tough, Isaiah). Glad we all get to celebrate the efforts of these programs and give them one more salute. Go Blue!
Credit to MLive commenter Blue Tiger, who posted the link in an unrelated article.
November 7th, 2019 at 8:56 PM ^
I took my family down to Omaha this past summer for the CWS. Always wanted to go to the series, bucket list item. With UM playing, made it all the more special! GO Blue!
November 7th, 2019 at 9:14 PM ^
That’s awesome! Must have been an electric atmosphere.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Ahh jealous. Went to all three games at UCLA and was dying to be in Omaha.
November 7th, 2019 at 9:25 PM ^
Michigan and Detroit specifically have a really interesting Negro league history, and Comerica Park has several plaques outside the stadium recognizing the leagues and the players, worth checking out before or after your next game there.
Also, it's probably known by most on this blog, but Branch Rickey, the Dodgers GM who signed Jackie Robinson, is a Michigan alum. It's really cool that Michigan was chosen to participate in this game, it can only help with recruiting.
November 7th, 2019 at 10:21 PM ^
Turkey Stearnes is the most interesting player to me. Great player for the Detroit Stars. Obviously they didn’t make all that much money in the Negro Leagues so he worked on a factory as well. The factory was owned by Walter Briggs, who was the owner of the Detroit tigers at the time. Wasn’t allowed to play ball for Briggs, but good enough to work in crummy conditions in a factory.
November 7th, 2019 at 11:53 PM ^
Also, first black MLB player was a UM alum. Moses Fleetwood Walker. Pre-1900, before the color line.
November 7th, 2019 at 9:34 PM ^
I'll be watching. What a great event! Now that the weather's turned cold here I've been rocking my replica Homestead Grays jacket I wear to honor the great Josh Gibson, the only man ever to hit a ball out of the old Yankee Stadium, my hometown ballpark. I've idolized him since I played...forever ago.
November 7th, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
How cool is this! The Michigan Difference.
November 7th, 2019 at 10:25 PM ^
Excellent. Thanks for posting.
November 7th, 2019 at 10:25 PM ^
Excellent. Thanks for posting.
November 7th, 2019 at 10:33 PM ^
Kick their asses!! Fire Bakich!!
November 8th, 2019 at 6:23 AM ^
This is excellent! Go Blue!!!
Maybe next year, Michigan can turn the tables and invite Vandy up here for the same thing? No way Vandy can turn it down, right? LOL - southern baseball comes north in November!
November 8th, 2019 at 7:14 AM ^
Jelous you're still plaing hardball. I played in the A2 rec league for 15 years then another 5 in a Roy Hobbs league in NYS, but with my daughter playing travel softball and my son in soccer/LL I haven't played in 2 years.
Probably for the best as I have been feel that 42 age more and more this past year.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
My sons at a juco and can tell you that Bakich is putting a team together to be there many more times. Michigan Baseball is gonna be a team to take serious for yrs to come. It’s amazing how baseball at the college level has changed. Power 5 are going after juco guys at a massive rate.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
A rematch of the CWS? Sweet!