The Andre Dawson Classic, formerly the Urban Invitational, is the annual, round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed by Major League Baseball to highlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their baseball programs.
Recognized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, HBCUs have offered quality educational and athletic programs for African-American youth for more than a century. HBCUs have a proud baseball tradition, and have produced Hall of Famers such as Lou Brock (Southern University) and Andre Dawson (Florida A&M University).
The Urban Invitational was first launched in 2008 at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, California, and was hosted there until 2012 when the tournament relocated to Houston. The Houston Astros hosted the event at Minute Maid Park in 2012 and 2013. In 2014 and 2015 the tournament relocated to New Orleans, and those two years included participation by NCAA Division I programs LSU and University of New Orleans. It has remained in New Orleans ever since.
This year’s tournament will feature seven HBCUs: Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana), Alabama A&M (Huntsville, Alabama), Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama), Prairie View A&M (Prairie View, Texas), Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida), Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi) and Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). They will be joined by the University of New Orleans.
Since 2008, the year of the inaugural Invitational, more than 25 HBCU athletes who have played in the tournament have been selected in the MLB Draft.
| Date | Time (CT) | Teams | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Feb. 24 | 11 a.m. | Alabama A&M 13, Prairie View A&M 1 (7 inn.) | University of New Orleans |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | 1 p.m. | Florida A&M 12, Southern 6 | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | 6 p.m. | Jackson State 3, UNO 0 | University of New Orleans |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | 7 p.m. | Alabama State 10, Grambling State 4 | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | 11 a.m. | Grambling State 3, Alabama A&M 2 | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | 2 p.m. | UNO 12, Florida A&M 0 (7 inn.) | University of New Orleans |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | Jackson State 5, Prairie View A&M 4 | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | 7 p.m. | Alabama State 7, Southern 5 | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | 11 a.m. | Florida A&M 6, Prairie View A&M 4 | University of New Orleans |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12 p.m. | Jackson State 12, Grambling State 11 (12 inn.) | New Orleans MLBYA |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | 2 p.m. | UNO 18, Alabama State 7 | University of New Orleans |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | 3 p.m. | Southern 9, Alabama A&M 7 | New Orleans MLBYA |
NEW ORLEANS -- Competitive baseball is the centerpiece of the Andre Dawson Classic each year, but take a closer look at the atmosphere at the event, and it’s clear there’s much more going on than just the games on the field. The annual gathering of baseball teams from Historically Black...
NEW ORLEANS -- The Alabama A&M baseball team had not played in the Andre Dawson Classic prior to this year, but there is one person affiliated with the school who is more than familiar with Major League Baseball’s signature college event. Head coach Elliott Jones holds a unique distinction no...
The 2023 Andre Dawson Classic -- an annual MLB-hosted baseball showcase featuring historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) -- is under way in New Orleans. Launched in 2008, the 15th edition of the round-robin tournament will feature seven HBCUs, including one making its first appearance at the event. The action...
NEW ORLEANS -- At first glance it may have looked like only one Hall of Famer threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Florida A&M University and Southern University’s game at the New Orleans Youth Academy on Friday afternoon. And sure, it’s true that Andre Dawson, for whom the...
NEW ORLEANS -- If Tyrone Brooks needs a hook to capture the attention of the dozens of young ballplayers he speaks to every year about careers in baseball, he has the perfect name to drop: Hank Aaron. Nearly three decades ago, Brooks, who at that time had recently graduated from...
Major League Baseball today announced the seven participating Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) in the 2023 Andre Dawson Classic – the 15th annual MLB-hosted showcase of HBCU baseball around the start of the college season. Held the weekend of February 24th-26th in New Orleans, La., the tournament will receive...
Sebastian Greico crushes a two-run homer to give Florida A&M a 7-5 lead in the 8th inning of the Andre Dawson Classic
Trent Langley induces a flyout to seal Florida A&M's 12-6 victory in the Andre Dawson Classic
Trent Langley of Florida A&M escapes a bases-loaded jam with some help from his defense in the 8th inning of the Andre Dawson Classic
Nathaniel Lai crushes a two-run home run for Southern University to tie the game at 5 in the 7th inning
Jaylen Armstrong hits a solo home run to left field to put Southern University on the board in the Andre Dawson Classic
Omar Melendez of Alabama State strikes out 10 over four innings in the Andre Dawson Classic
Shadai Colon induces a lineout to seal Alabama State's 10-4 win over Grambling State in the Andre Dawson Classic
Jamal George drives a two-run home run in the 10th to give Alabama State a 10-4 lead in the Andre Dawson Classic
Christian Lopez drives a go-ahead single in the 10th inning to put Alabama State up in the Andre Dawson Classic
