View source for Civil Rights Game

{{short description|Series of Major League Baseball games}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox
| abovestyle = background: #efefef;
| headerstyle = background:#efefef
| above = Civil Rights Game
| image = [[File:CivilRightsGame5.PNG|250px]]
| logo  =
| caption = 
| label1 = Organized by
| data1 = [[Major League Baseball]]
| label2 = First played
| data2 = {{mlby|2007}}
| label3 = Last played
| data3 = {{mlby|2015}}
| label4 = Most appearances
| data4 = [[Chicago White Sox]] (3)
| label5 = Related
| data5 = Beacon Awards
}}
The '''Civil Rights Game''' was an annual game in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) that honored the [[history of civil rights in the United States]]. Its first two playings also marked an unofficial end to the league's [[spring training]]. The game was played annually from 2007 through 2015. In conjunction with the Civil Rights Game, MLB annually honored pioneers of civil rights with Beacon Awards.

==History==
[[File:AutoZone Park, Memphis.jpg|thumb|right|[[AutoZone Park]], ballpark for the first two editions of the game]]
The first two Civil Rights Games were held at [[AutoZone Park]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]], as preseason contests in 2007 and 2008. The intent of the game was to "embrace baseball's history of [[African-American]] players", as well as to generate interest for future black players, after a demographics survey revealed that the percentage of black players in the league has dwindled over the past twelve years to just 8.4 percent.<ref name="8.4 percent">{{cite news|title=Only 8.4 percent of major leaguers were black last season|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2818145|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=mobile ESPN.com|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=March 29, 2007}}</ref> The survey also gave the diversity of players in Major League Baseball an A+ grade: while African-Americans in the sport since 1996 dropped from 17 percent to 8 percent, the percentage of Hispanic players (many of them blacks from the Caribbean) increased during that period from 20 percent to 29 percent, and Asian and other minorities increased from 1 percent to 3 percent. The percentage of non-Hispanic white players went down from 62 percent to 60 percent during that period.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lapchick|first1=Richard|last2=Ekiyor|first2=Boma|last3=Ruiz|first3=Horacio|title=The 2006 Racial and Gender Report Card: Major League Baseball|url=http://www.tidesport.org/RGRC/2006/2006_RGRC_MLB.pdf|website=[[University of Central Florida College of Business Administration]]|publisher=The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES)|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630052807/http://www.tidesport.org/RGRC/2006/2006_RGRC_MLB.pdf|archive-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Baseball Commissioner [[Bud Selig]] commented on air during the first Civil Rights game that the 8 percent total for African-Americans was "a problem that needed to be looked at." [[Associated Press]] news releases related to the game focused on the drop in African-Americans, and quoted former Cleveland pitcher [[CC Sabathia]] on the idea that baseball must do more to promote the game in inner cities, saying, "It's not just a problem—it's a crisis."<ref name="8.4 percent"/>

In 2009, the contest became a regular season game. The game was last staged in 2015, held that season on April 15, the same date that MLB observes [[Jackie Robinson Day]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/civil-rights-game-gets-fitting-new-date-jackie-robinson-day/c-117218674 |title=Civil Rights Game on Jackie's day unites MLB |first=Spencer |last=Fordin |website=MLB.com |date=April 16, 2015 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref> The game has not been held since the 2015 playing, for unspecified reasons.

==Game results==
The winning team for each game appears in '''bold''' font.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Date
! Host city
! Stadium
! Home team
! Score
! Visiting team
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|[[Box score|Box]]
|-
|2007{{dagger}}
|{{sort|0331|{{abbr|March 31|Saturday}} }}
|rowspan=2|[[Memphis, Tennessee]]
|rowspan=2|[[AutoZone Park]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2007 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]]'''
|align=center|5–1
|[[2007 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]
|align=center|12,815
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83444457/cardinals-5-indians-1/ |title=Cardinals 5, Indians 1 |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |page=10D |date=April 1, 2007 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
|2008{{dagger}}
|{{sort|0329|{{abbr|March 29|Saturday}} }}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2008 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]'''
|align=center|3–2
|[[2008 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]]
|align=center|7,717
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83444660/baseball-salutes-sports-heritage/ |title=Baseball salutes sports' heritage |first=Phil |last=Rogers |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |page=3-3 |date=March 30, 2008 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
|2009
|{{sort|0620|{{abbr|June 20|Saturday}} }}
|rowspan=2|[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]
|rowspan=2|[[Great American Ball Park]]
|[[2009 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]]
|align=center|8–10
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2009 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]]'''
|align=center|42,234
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B06200CIN2009.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago White Sox 10, Cincinnati Reds 8}}</ref>
|-
|2010
|{{sort|0515|{{abbr|May 15|Saturday}} }}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2010 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]]'''
|align=center|4–3
|[[2010 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]]
|align=center|41,326
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B05150CIN2010.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Cincinnati Reds 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|{{sort|0515|{{abbr|May 15|Sunday}} }}
|rowspan=2|[[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]]
|rowspan=2|[[Turner Field]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2011 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]'''
|align=center|3–2
|[[2011 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]
|align=center|42,117
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B05150ATL2011.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Atlanta Braves 3, Philadelphia Phillies 2}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|{{sort|0818|{{abbr|August 18|Saturday}} }}
|[[2012 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]
|align=center|2–6
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]]'''
|align=center|42,219
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B08180ATL2012.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Atlanta Braves 2}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|{{sort|0824|{{abbr|August 24|Saturday}} }}
|[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
|[[U.S. Cellular Field]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2013 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]]'''
|align=center|3–2
|[[2013 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]]
|align=center|22,079
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B08240CHA2013.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago White Sox 3, Texas Rangers 2}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|{{sort|0530|{{abbr|May 30|Friday}} }}
|[[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
|[[Minute Maid Park]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2014 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]]'''
|align=center|2–1
|[[2014 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]
|align=center|38,482
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2014/B05300HOU2014.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Houston Astros 2, Baltimore Orioles 1}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|{{sort|0415|{{abbr|April 15|Wednesday}} }}
|[[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]
|[[Dodger Stadium]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|'''[[2015 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]]'''
|align=center|5–2
|[[2015 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]
|align=center|51,287
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2015/B04150LAN2015.htm|title = Retrosheet Boxscore: Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Seattle Mariners 2}}</ref>
|}
{{dagger}} Preseason contest

===Team appearances===
[[File:Bo Porter 2013.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|[[Bo Porter]] managed the [[Houston Astros]] to their win in the 2014 game.]]
{|class = "wikitable"
|-
! Games !! Team !! Record ([[Winning percentage|win pct.]]) || Years (won / ''lost'')
|-
| 3 || [[Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|2|1}} || ''2008'', '''2009''', '''2013'''
|-
| 2 || [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|2|0}} || '''2012''', '''2015'''
|-
| 2 || [[Cincinnati Reds]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|1|1}} || ''2009'', '''2010'''
|-
| 2 || [[St. Louis Cardinals]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|1|1}} || '''2007''', ''2010''
|-
| 2 || [[Atlanta Braves]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|1|1}} || '''2011''', ''2012''
|-
| 1 || [[New York Mets]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|1|0}} || '''2008'''
|-
| 1 || [[Houston Astros]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|1|0}} || '''2014'''
|-
| 1 || [[Cleveland Indians]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|0|1}} || ''2007''
|-
| 1 || [[Philadelphia Phillies]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|0|1}} || ''2011''
|-
| 1 || [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|0|1}} || ''2013''
|-
| 1 || [[Baltimore Orioles]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|0|1}} || ''2014''
|-
| 1 || [[Seattle Mariners]] || align=center|{{winpct|record=y|0|1}} || ''2015''
|}

==Game summaries==

;Inaugural game
The inaugural game was played on Saturday, March 31, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. and was broadcast nationally on [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] and [[ESPNHD]]. It was announced by ESPN's lead broadcast team of [[Jon Miller]] and [[Joe Morgan]], with [[Peter Gammons]] serving as a field analyst (his role during ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]'' telecasts on ESPN). The game featured the [[2007 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[2007 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]. Both teams wore uniforms reminiscent of those worn in [[Negro league]] games. The Cardinals won, 5&ndash;1, receiving a solid five-inning start out of their 2006 closer [[Adam Wainwright]], who got the [[Win (baseball)|win]].

Selig came under heavy criticism from [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]s, who felt that the involvement of the Cleveland Indians was a slap in the face to the [[Cherokee]] people who still live in the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] area after the infamous [[Trail of Tears]] passed through less than 200 years ago. The ''[[New York Daily News]]'' called the situation a "primer on how to inadvertently stage an ironic insult to a local and large population of Natives" and insinuated that the league has (inadvertently) sabotaged the game by inviting the Indians.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2007/03/08/2007-03-08_seligs_uncivil_wrong-2.html | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Selig's Uncivil Wrong | date=March 8, 2007 | first=Filip | last=Bondy}}</ref> The sports blog ''[[Deadspin]]'' asked the question "If the Indians win, do Native Americans get civil rights?"<ref>{{cite web|title=If The Indians Win, Do Native Americans Get Civil Rights?|url=http://deadspin.com/248670/if-the-indians-win-do-native-americans-get-civil-rights|website=[[Deadspin]]|publisher=[[Gawker Media]]|access-date=October 3, 2014|format=Blog|date=March 31, 2007}}</ref>

;2008
On December 3, 2007, league officials announced details for the second annual game. It was played on March 29, 2008. The [[2008 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] beat the [[2008 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], 3&ndash;2.  [[Martin Luther King III]] threw out the first pitch.  This was the Civil Rights Game with the lowest attendance, primarily because it was held at a [[Minor League Baseball|minor-league]] park during cool, rainy weather.

;2009
On June 20, 2009, the Civil Rights Game was played for the first time as part of the regular season schedule.  The game took place at [[Great American Ball Park]] in [[Cincinnati]] between the host [[2009 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] and the [[2009 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]]. The White Sox defeated the Reds, 10&ndash;8.  For this game, the teams wore replicas of their 1965 uniforms.  The White Sox became the first team to participate in two Civil Rights Games. The game was broadcast on [[MLB Network]] except in the home markets of the two teams that played in the game, Cincinnati ([[FSN Ohio]]) and Chicago ([[CSN Chicago]]).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Masilak|first1=Jim|title=Baseball Says Civil Rights Game Will Move to Cincinnati For 2009|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/source-says-civil-rights-game-will-move-cincinnati|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=[[The Commercial Appeal]]|publisher=[[The E.W. Scripps Company]]|date=September 18, 2008}}</ref>

;2010
Cincinnati again hosted the Civil Rights Game on May 15, 2010. The Reds defeated the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in a dramatic 4–3 game that ended when Reds shortstop [[Orlando Cabrera]] took a relay throw from left fielder [[Chris Heisey]] at the base of the left field wall and threw out [[Skip Schumaker]] at home plate trying to score the tying run from first base on [[Joe Mather]]'s double.<ref>{{cite news|title=Strong throw helps Reds take out Cardinals|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300515117|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521072929/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300515117|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2010|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=[[ESPN.com]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]/[[STATS LLC]]|date=May 15, 2010}}</ref>  Both teams wore replicas of their 1954 uniforms for this game, the first season both teams [[List of first black Major League Baseball players by team and date|fielded their first black players]]. Again, MLB Network telecast the game except in Cincinnati (Fox Sports Ohio) and St. Louis ([[Fox Sports Midwest]]).

;2011
During the 2010 season, it was announced that [[Atlanta, Georgia]], had been selected to host the 2011 and 2012 Civil Rights Games at [[Turner Field]], home of the [[2011 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Atlanta Braves to host 2011 and 2012 Civil Rights Game Weekends |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLB.com) |date=June 30, 2010 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100630&content_id=11758522&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |access-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> Prior to the start of the 2011 season, the 2011 game was announced to be the May 15 series finale between the Atlanta Braves and [[2011 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]. Additionally, the festivities have been expanded from two days to four days.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110112&content_id=16429522&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl|title=Civil Rights Game to Feature Braves, Phillies|work=[[MLB.com]]|date=January 13, 2011|access-date=January 16, 2011|archive-date=June 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616131751/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110112&content_id=16429522&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Major League Baseball on TBS|TBS]] carried the game outside the Philadelphia and Atlanta [[media market]]s.

For the Civil Rights Game, the Braves and the Phillies wore their 1974 throwback jerseys to honor [[Hank Aaron]]'s record-breaking 715th home run in 1974 as a member of the Atlanta Braves. In the previous game of the series, both teams wore [[Negro league baseball|Negro league]] uniforms from their respective cities, the [[Atlanta Black Crackers]] for the Braves and the [[Philadelphia Stars (baseball)|Philadelphia Stars]] for the Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scott|first= Kyle|url=http://www.crossingbroad.com/2011/05/phillies-will-wear-1974-throwbacks-on-sunday.html
|access-date=October 3, 2014|title=Phillies Will Wear Negro Leagues Jerseys on Saturday, 1974 Throwbacks on Sunday|work=crossingbroad.com|publisher=CB Sports LLC|date=May 13, 2011}}</ref>

The game was a pitching duel against two of the National League's best pitchers, [[Tim Hudson]] of the Braves and [[Roy Halladay]] of the Phillies. Both pitchers had very good starts, with Hudson going seven and giving up just two runs on a [[John Mayberry Jr.]] home run. Halladay worked eight innings, giving up a leadoff eighth-inning home run to [[Dan Uggla]] to put the Braves in front. [[Craig Kimbrel]] of the Braves closed the game out, earning his 10th [[Save (baseball)|save]] of the season.

;2012
The 2012 game was again held at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Braves organization announced on February 21 that the game would be the August 19 series finale versus the [[2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]]. The three-game weekend series of August 17–19 was incorporated into the Civil Rights Game Weekend, to honor those on and off the field who have paved the way for equal rights for all Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120221&content_id=26773698&vkey=pr_atl&c_id=atl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232940/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120221&content_id=26773698&vkey=pr_atl&c_id=atl|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 29, 2012|title=Atlanta Braves 2012 Single Game Tickets|work=atlantabraves.com|date=February 21, 2012}}</ref>

;2013
The 2013 Game was held at [[Guaranteed Rate Field|US Cellular Field]] in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] on August 24, when the [[Chicago White Sox|White Sox]] beat the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] by a score of 3–2.

;2014
It was announced on November 19, 2013, that the 2014 game would be held at [[Minute Maid Park]] in [[Houston]], Texas, on May 30, with the [[2014 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] hosting the [[2014 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]. Houston beat Baltimore, 2–1. For the game, the Astros played as the [[Houston Eagles]] (after the only Negro league team in Texas) and Baltimore played as the [[Baltimore Elite Giants]].

;2015
The 2015 game was held on April 15 at [[Dodger Stadium]] in [[Los Angeles]] which saw the [[2015 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] host the [[2015 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]. It was the first Civil Rights Game played on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. To date, this is the most recent Civil Rights Game played.

==Beacon Awards==
[[File:Dolores Huerta 2019 cropped.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|2015 Beacon of Life Award recipient [[Dolores Huerta]]]]
MLB held an annual luncheon prior to the Civil Right Game, at which Beacon Awards were given. The awards given were the Beacon of Life Award, Beacon of Change Award, and Beacon of Hope Award. The following people were recipients of Beacon Awards; keynote speakers at the annual awards luncheon are also listed.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Year !! Beacon of Life Award !! Beacon of Change Award !! Beacon of Hope Award !! Awards luncheon<br>keynote speaker !! Ref.
|-
| {{mlby|2007}} || [[Buck O'Neil]] || [[Spike Lee]] || [[Vera Clemente]] || [[Julian Bond]] || <ref>{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |title=Beacons Awarded at Poignant Luncheon: Three Winners Honored On Day of Civil Rights Game |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLB.com) |date=March 31, 2007 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070331&content_id=1872794&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |access-date=June 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Justice B.|last=Hill|title=O'Neil to Receive Beacon Award: Baseball Ambassador Recognized For His Dedication|date=March 27, 2007|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P|work=[[MLB.com]]|url=http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070327&content_id=1861324&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|access-date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618130223/http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070327&content_id=1861324&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=June 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2008}} || [[Frank Robinson]] || [[Ruby Dee]] || [[John H. Johnson]] || [[Joseph Lowery]] || <ref>{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Justice B.|title=Beacon Awards Salute Trailblazers|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2456264/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083716/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2456264/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media|MLB Advanced Media, LP]]|date=March 26, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2009}} || [[Hank Aaron]] || [[Muhammad Ali]] || [[Bill Cosby]] || [[Bill Clinton]] || <ref>{{cite news|last1=Newman|first1=Mark|title=Stars Come Out At Beacon Awards|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/5433630/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084102/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/5433630/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP|date=June 21, 2009}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2010}} || [[Willie Mays]] || [[Billie Jean King]] || [[Harry Belafonte]] || [[Andrew Young]] || <ref>{{cite web |last= Schlegel |first=John |title=Beacon Awards Honor Legendary Trio: Mays, King and Belafonte Recognized For Their Contributions |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLB.com) |date=May 15, 2010 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100515&content_id=10057516&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp |access-date=June 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210170127/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/10057516|archive-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2011}} || [[Ernie Banks]] || [[Carlos Santana]] || [[Morgan Freeman]] || [[Joseph Lowery]] || <ref>{{cite web |last= Gonzalez |first=Alden |title=Beacon Awards Go to Banks, Freeman, Santana |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLB.com) |date=March 23, 2011 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110323&content_id=17081386&vkey=civilrights2011 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2012}} || [[John Lewis]] || [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] || [[Don Newcombe]] || ''none specified'' || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/don-newcombe-to-receive-major-league-baseballs-beacon-of-hope-award/c-36856692 |title=Don Newcombe to receive Major League Baseball's Beacon of Hope Award |website=MLB.com |date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714190328if_/https://www.mlb.com/news/don-newcombe-to-receive-major-league-baseballs-beacon-of-hope-award/c-36856692 |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2013}} || [[Bo Jackson]] || [[Aretha Franklin]] || ''not awarded'' || ''none specified'' || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83449583/mlb-to-honor-franklin-jackson/ |title=MLB to honor Franklin, Jackson |newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |page=B14 |date=July 26, 2013 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83449171/aretha-franklin-not-attending-luncheon/ |title=Aretha Franklin not attending luncheon |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=Beaver Dam Daily Citizen |location=[[Beaver Dam, Wisconsin]] |page=A7 |date=August 20, 2013 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bo-jackson-and-aretha-franklin-to-receive-mlb-beacon-awards/c-54739020 |title=Bo Jackson and Aretha Franklin to receive MLB Beacon Awards as part of the 2013 Civil Rights Game Weekend Schedule of Events |website=MLB.com |date=July 25, 2013 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2014}} || [[Maya Angelou]] || [[Berry Gordy]] || [[Jim Brown]] || [[Robin Roberts (newscaster)|Robin Roberts]] || <ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-to-honor-dr-maya-angelou-berry-gordy-and-jim-brown/c-66879290 |title=MLB to Honor Dr. Maya Angelou, Berry Gordy and Jim Brown with Beacon Awards During Civil Rights Game Festivities in Houston |website=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2014 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83450050/angelou-out-of-baseball-event/ |title=Angelou out of baseball event |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |location=[[Spokane, Washington]] |page=C4 |date=May 24, 2014 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/beacon-awards-luncheon-celebrates-honorees/c-77515824 |title=Beacon Awards luncheon celebrates honorees |first=Spencer |last=Fordin |website=MLB.com |date=May 30, 2014 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{mlby|2015}} || [[Dolores Huerta]] || ''not awarded'' || [[Magic Johnson]] || ''none specified'' || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/lyle-spencer-magic-johnsons-altruism-teams-well-with-jackie-robinsons-grace/c-118563062 |title=Magic's altruism teams well with Jackie's grace |first=Lyle |last=Spencer |website=MLB.com |date=April 15, 2015 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[East-West Major League Baseball Classic]]
*[[Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy]]
*[[Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* Official website: [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2007/ 2007] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2008/ 2008] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2009/ 2009] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2010/ 2010] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2011/ 2011] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2012/ 2012] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2013/ 2013] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2014/ 2014] [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/civil_rights_game/y2015/ 2015]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuyQ6yrp8As Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game Highlight Reel] via [[YouTube]]

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[[Category:Major League Baseball competitions]]
[[Category:Movements for civil rights]]
[[Category:Baseball in Memphis, Tennessee]]
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[[Category:Baseball competitions in Chicago]]
[[Category:Baseball competitions in Houston]]
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[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2007]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2015]]