2017 MLB Little League Classic


The 2017 MLB Little League Classic was a Major League Baseball game held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the 2017 Little League World Series on August 20, 2017. It was the first playing of what is now an annual MLB Little League Classic game, part of MLB's effort to get more children interested in and involved with baseball at a younger age.

Background

On March 9, 2017, MLB officially announced the game, selecting the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals as the participants.
Residents from Lycoming County were eligible to win a very limited number of tickets to the game via a lottery system found on the MLB website. The game was originally scheduled to be a home game for the Pirates; ticket holders for that game were offered a food-and-beverage credit, tickets to another game, or a refund.
Both teams were allowed by MLB to add a 26th player to their active rosters for the game; the Cardinals added outfielder Stephen Piscotty, who started in right field, and the Pirates added catcher Jacob Stallings, who did not appear in the game.
The Cardinals and Pirates also wore special uniforms, including features such as pullover jerseys with bright colors and contrasting sleeves, specially colored caps, and a unique logo that drew design cues from the official logos of both MLB and Little League Baseball. In addition, players were encouraged to put nicknames on the jerseys' rear nameplates. These uniforms were worn again by both teams on August 25–27 for Players Weekend, an initiative of MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association that saw all 30 MLB teams wear similar uniforms.
The Cardinals entered the game with a 63–60 record, games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central; the Pirates were 59–64, games back of the Cubs. The game was featured on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, and was also available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, and MLB Network.

Game

Line score

Box score

CardinalsABRHRBIBBSOAVG
, 1B501002.246
, RF402011.236
, SS500000.299
, CF401000.262
, C423000.278
, 3B412200.269
, 2B401101.309
, LF400003.244
, P100001.174
, PH100000.287
, P000000.000
, PH101000.249
, P000000.000
, P000000.000
, PH000010.307
PiratesABRHRBIBBSOAVG
, LF322000.278
, 2B422001.278
, CF412101.288
, 1B412400.261
, 3B400002.261
, RF401100.284
, SS400002.249
, C400000.194
, P200001.023
, P000010.000
, P000000.000
, P000000.000
, P000000.000

Pitching