MLB Little League Classic
The MLB Little League Classic is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) game held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, first played during the 2017 Little League World Series. The series is part of MLB's effort to get more children interested in and involved with baseball at a younger age. History. After the success of the Fort Bragg Game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in July 2016, reports spread that MLB was planning another similar event in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which is the venue for the annual Little League World Series and  home to the Williamsport Crosscutters of Minor League Baseball. Many locals of the area and reporters across the nation thought it was almost impossible due to the size and capacity of Bowman Field, as seating for fewer than 3,000 fans seems much less than ideal for an MLB game. As the reports were dispelled by many, the news faded. However, a "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" column in early March 2017 stated that MLB was finalizing plans for the game. On March 9, 2017, MLB officially announced the first MLB Little League Classic, selecting the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals  as the participants, and released the following statement: Prior to the inaugural game, funding from MLB and grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania given to the City of Williamsport provided more than $4 million to improve BB&T Ballpark. These included adding new seats, padding around the infield fence, new irrigation and draining to the field itself, moving the bullpens out beyond the outfield fence, new dugouts closer to home plate, and improved dining areas. The Pirates defeated the Cardinals, 6–3, in the first Classic, played on August 20, 2017. In late September 2017, MLB announced that a second Classic  would be held in 2018, between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. On August 19, 2018, the Mets won the second Classic, 8–2. The third Classic was played on August 18, 2019, with the Chicago Cubs defeating the Pirates, 7–1. The fourth edition was announced for August 23, 2020, between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles, and was to be the first Classic with American League teams. That game was canceled on April 30, 2020, with the cancellation of the 2020 Little League World Series due to the coronavirus pandemic. The game of August 22, 2021, when  the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 3–0, became the first edition contested between American League teams and the fourth overall edition played. The fifth edition has been announced for August 21, 2022, featuring the Red Sox and Orioles (the same matchup as the canceled 2020 game), as a home game for Baltimore.