Here’s the news we’ve all been waiting for! MLB are finally coming to London! Not for games (yet) but for a huge showcase event as part of this year’s Hyde Park British Summer Time on 4th July – US Independence Day.
The park will be transformed into a baseball extravaganza, bringing the best of the music, food and vibe of two of the sport’s signature cities – Boston and LA.
The centrepiece attraction will be a ‘Home Run Derby’ featuring ex-pro MLB legends Carlos Pena, Cliff Floyd and Shawn Green.
Green, is a Dodgers legend who hit 328 home runs in his career, while Peña and Floyd, who hit 286 and 233 home runs respectively and are amongst the biggest names in baseball punditry, will don the Red Sox jersey, despite being better known for spells with the Tampa Bay Rays and Montreal Expos.
The event has been a closely guarded secret, but shows a genuine commitment from the league to ‘try something new’ in the UK and take a strong step towards securing strong ties between London and the MLB which (hopefully) lead to a series in the capital in a couple of years’ time.
The Bat Flips & Nerds gang will be there on the day, and we’re really hopeful of giving you more coverage in the run-up to what should be an awesome day out.
The event will run from 5-10pm and you can get full details right here.
See you in Hyde Park!
A Mr Andy Hunt suggested I take a look at your site. Great to see some UK coverage of the MLB.
In regard this event…Awesome.
I hit many a home run with Carlos Pena, on MVP Baseball while he was on the A’s. Good to hear MLB are waking up to the market beyond the Americas too. Definitely will be there.
Thanks Oliver! Make sure you check out the latest podcast where we get in depth and daft on the London event. You going to come along?
Good on Andy, too. I actually owe him a pint. Maybe I now owe him two?