Atlanta Braves to Host Phillies in the 2011 Civil Rights Game

Team FYN Sports

Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves today announced that the Braves will host the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth annual Civil Rights Game at Turner Field on Sunday, May 15, which will highlight the largest collection of Civil Rights Game activities in the five-year history of the event.The Civil Rights Game Week consists of a four-day (May 12-15) series of events, which have been designed by MLB and the Braves to pay tribute to all of those who fought on and off the field for equal rights for all Americans. As home to many key leaders and organizations of the civil rights movement, and as a location for many of the movement’s grassroots activities, Atlanta played a critical role in this period of American history.

In addition to the continuation of the MLB Beacon Awards Banquet, the Baseball and Civil Rights Roundtable Discussion and the Youth Summit/”Wanna Play?” event, MLB and the Braves have installed two new marquee events to illustrate Baseball’s role in supporting diversity in today’s workforce and in the civil rights movement: the Selig Business Conference and Chasing the Dream: A Red Carpet Tribute to Hank Aaron. Tickets for select events will be available for purchase on Friday, January 21, online at www.mlb.com/civilrightsgame.

Following is information for 2011 Civil Rights Game events:

Selig Business Conference — Conference Diversity Workforce and Supplier Diversity Trade Fair, Thursday, May 12 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET); Leadership Panels and Award Luncheon, Friday, May 13 (8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)

The first-ever Selig Business Conference will be a two-day job and procurement trade fair for diversity workforce and supply chain networking and registration. The Atlanta Braves along with other Major League Baseball Clubs, Minor League Clubs, Commissioner’s Office representatives and Corporate Sponsorship Partners will be present and provide hands-on access to conference attendees. At the Conference, attendees will have the opportunity to network, post resumes, attend panel discussions and register within MLB’s supply chain portal. The conference is named in recognition of Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig in honor of his commitment to diversity and executive leadership. On-line registration at MLB.com is required for The Selig Business Conference.

Chasing the Dream: A Red Carpet Tribute to Hank Aaron — Fox Theater, Thursday, May 12 (6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ET)

Hosted by MLB and the Braves, the Oscar-nominated documentary “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream” will be screened at the Fox Theater in Downtown Atlanta, and attendees will be treated to a post-viewing conversation with Executive Producer Debra Martin-Chase, Writer/Director Mike Tollin and Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. All net proceeds from the red carpet tribute and screening will be donated to the Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.

Baseball & the Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion — Ebenezer Baptist Church, Friday, May 13 (4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET)

Moderated each year by Harvard Law School Professor and renowned expert on race and justice Charles Ogletree, the roundtable discusses the pivotal role Baseball played in the civil rights movement and the game’s continued presence as a social institution in American society. Previous panelists have included Martin Luther King III, human rights activist and eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Sharon Robinson, MLB Educational Programming Consultant and daughter of Baseball Hall of Famer and Pioneer Jackie Robinson; Ambassador Shabazz, Ambassador-at-large for Belize and eldest daughter of Malcolm X; Branch Rickey III, Pacific Coast League President and grandson of the late Branch Rickey; Baseball Hall of Famers Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Dave Winfield; and Hall of Famer and MLB Network analyst Peter Gammons, among others. The roundtable discussion will be an open event to the public and will stream live on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball.

Civil Rights Game Youth Summit/”Wanna Play?” Event — Centennial Olympic Park, Saturday, May 14 (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)

Young people will have the opportunity to meet MLB players and participate in baseball and softball clinics, interactive stations and a Q&A discussion panel featuring players, performers and local celebrities. The free event will conclude with a parade to Turner Field.

MLB Beacon Awards Banquet — Omni Hotel Grand Ballroom, Saturday, May 14 (7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET)

The banquet to celebrate the 2011 recipients of the MLB Beacon Awards (Beacons of Life, Change and Hope) will be held the evening prior to the 2011 Civil Rights Game. Each award, which recognizes individuals whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement, will be presented to the recipients at the banquet. The MLB Beacon of Life recognizes an individual who embodies the soul of the civil rights movement through the recipient’s life pursuits. The MLB Beacon of Change is given to an individual who impacts society through words and actions. The MLB Beacon of Hope is given to an individual who influences our future through his or her support of children. Past recipients of MLB Beacon Awards include: Baseball Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays; Buck O’Neil, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Ruby Dee, Spike Lee, Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, John H. Johnson and Vera Clemente, MLB Goodwill Ambassador and wife of the late Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. Keynote speakers at previous MLB Beacon Award events have included President Bill Clinton, Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Joseph Lowery and Julian Bond. All net proceeds from the MLB Beacon Awards Banquet will benefit the Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.

Fifth Annual Civil Rights Game — Turner Field, Sunday, May 15 (Game time scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET)

The fifth annual Civil Rights Game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field will feature special pre-game ceremonies recognizing the 2011 MLB Beacon Award recipients, on-field civil rights-themed musical performances and players wearing throwback uniforms reminiscent of those worn in the Negro Leagues.

The 2011 Civil Rights Game and ancillary activities is the fifth installation of an annual event that began in Memphis in 2007, centering on an exhibition game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians. After another exhibition game in Memphis in 2008, the Civil Rights Game and ancillary events moved to Cincinnati in 2009 and 2010 as Regular Season contests. For more information on the Civil Rights Game and ancillary events, fans can visit MLB.com/civilrightsgame.com.

Back to Top