MLB last night announced that the Pirates and Cubs "will meet in the third" Little League Classic in '19. Like the first two iterations, the '19 game "will take place at Bowman Field" in Williamsport, Pa., around the Little League World Series, and will air on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball." The Pirates played in the inaugural version in '17, facing the Cardinals (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/20). Next year, the Little League Classic, "along with the June 13 matchup between the Royals and Tigers in Omaha, Neb., will make up the inaugural Geico Summer Series" (MLB.com, 8/19).
Last night's second annual Little League Classic saw the Mets top the Phillies 8-2, and both teams "spent most of the day mingling with Little League World Series teams." The crowd was "made up almost entirely of Little Leaguers, their families and friends at a minor-league ballpark that seats less than 2,500 people" (PHILLY.com, 8/19). Appearing on the ESPN game telecast, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, "The social media from guys on other clubs who were not involved today was really phenomenal, and the word kind of got around that it's a great way to spend a day. ... They arrived, getting off the bus with big smiles, and they were great with the kids. It was fun to watch" (ESPN, 8/19).
