Before those spring training games, check this out: The annual Andre Dawson Classic!

FEB. 21-23, 2025: JACKIE ROBINSON TRAINING COMPLEX IN VERO BEACH, FLA.

I dare you to watch the video for this year’s Playball Andre Dawson Classic and not be excited for baseball season. Three days, six HBCU college teams, 25 past players who have been selected to the MLB Draft since this annual tournament started back in 2008.

HBCUs have been making a positive impact, academically and athletically since the passage of the Higher Education Act in 1965. Coincidentally, two of our recent “Tough Outs” posts on this site were dedicated to former HBCU players who went on to Hall of Fame careers in MLB. The late, great Lou Brock, and the all-time great this tournament was named for, Andre Dawson, who will be there for the weekend.

While Classic Baseball World is not directly affiliated with the Playball Andre Dawson Classic, our team, which includes “The Hawk” via his active role on the board of the Africa Baseball Project, is proud to support and draw attention to this great event.

This tournament, which takes place from Friday 2/21 through Sunday 2/23, happens on some very hallowed grounds for baseball fans. The facility includes historic Holman Stadium, where Jackie and his Dodgers teammates prepared for each season. Formerly known as “Dodgertown,” the Vero Beach, FL complex served as that team’s home until 2008. Today, it is a long way from its original purpose…a US Navy base.

Historic Dodgertown, now the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, was designated as a Florida Heritage Landmark in 2014, and five years later, became the first sports facility to be added to US Civil Rights Trail.

See the link above for more information on the event, teams, tickets and more!