Atlanta Braves fans, circle June 19 on your calendars—and not just because it’s Juneteenth. That’s the day baseball takes a soulful step back in time at the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, for the East-West Classic—and some familiar faces from Braves lore will be there to headline it all.
Braves Royalty Returns to the Field
First up: Andruw Jones and Gary Sheffield—two legendary outfielders whose time in Atlanta may have been different in duration, but both left undeniable marks.
Jones, known as one of the greatest defensive center fielders the game has ever seen, racked up five All-Star appearances and five Gold Gloves with the Braves. And let’s not forget 2005—the year. He led the National League in home runs and finished runner-up to Albert Pujols in MVP voting.
The Hall of Fame may still be a work in progress—he hit 61.6% of the vote this year, his best yet—but his place in Braves history? Cemented.
Then there’s Gary Sheffield, who may have only spent two seasons in Atlanta, but left a lasting impact. In 2003, he made the All-Star team, mashed 39 homers, and finished third in MVP voting.
Sheffield just missed Cooperstown in his final year on the writers’ ballot, ending with 63.9%—close, but not quite. Still, you won’t find many hitters more feared in the early 2000s.
A Star-Studded (and Braves-Loaded) Roster
Jones and Sheffield won’t be alone. Other former Atlanta Braves suiting up include Michael Bourn, Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Nick Swisher, and Matt Kemp.
It’s like flipping through a baseball card binder from the 2000s and early 2010s—familiar names, familiar power strokes. Even Scott Kazmir, who didn’t play in a regular season game for the Braves but was in camp one spring, is on the list.
The mix of past All-Stars and fan favorites promises a celebration of the game’s recent past with a nod to its deeper roots.
Honoring Willie Mays at a Living Landmark
This Classic is about more than stats. It’s a tribute to Willie Mays, the iconic outfielder who started his career with the Birmingham Black Barons. Rickwood Field was their home. It still stands as the oldest professional baseball stadium in the U.S., predating Fenway Park by two years.
This isn’t just a game—it’s a storybook come to life. With first pitch at 1:05 p.m. CT, and a home run derby kicking off the action at noon, the five-inning (or two-hour max) showcase will bring past greatness to a historic stage in honor of one of the game’s all-time icons.
