Inaugural Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic held at Wrigley Field: 'A blessing and an honor'

Two HBCU schools participated in a historic game Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

While the two college baseball teams on field had people divided on who to cheer for, the actual event - the first ever Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic - brought unity in the stands.

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In its inaugural year, pride for Historically Black Colleges and Universities shined bright in Wrigley Field.

"Like, what? This is the first time ever. I love this for us," Alabama A&M alum Aliyah Jones said.

Black Baseball Media hosted the first Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic on one of the sport's most iconic stages, and on the very same day, May 2 in 1920, when the first Negro Leagues baseball game was held with a Chicago team playing in that game, the Chicago American Giants.

"This is our homecoming for HBCUs in Chicago, so to have that is truly gratifying," said Earnest Horton with Black Baseball Media. "So many community organizations that's coming out to this game. Day one we sold out of those first tickets, and it's free for the community, so it's truly heartfelt."

Horton joined ABC7 in February ahead of the special event.

Baseball teams from two Historically Black Colleges and Universities will face off at Wrigley Field.

"I never had the opportunity to go to an HBCU, so this right here is very good for me," Kappa Alpha Psi member Markus Allen said.

"With my son being an HBCU alum, we always had to travel down south to watch them play, but now it's a blessing and an honor to see the HBCU coming to Chicago," attendee Carolyn Bonds said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered the first pitch before the National Anthem ushered in the Prairie View A&M Panthers and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on the field. HBCU alum and members of Divine Nine fraternities and sororities were beaming with pride.

"And to see some like this finally come to Chicago, as an educator, I can bring my kids and give them the exposure that I had 40 years ago," Omega Psi Phi member Tracey Johnson said. "It means so much."