Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals take MLB World Tour to London
The London Series is scheduled for 24 and 25 June and will be preceded by the European Development Tournament.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is back in Europe. The London Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs is scheduled for Saturday, 24 and Sunday, 25 June, at London Stadium, within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
The event will be preceded by the European Development Tournament, involving 82 of the best prospects in Europe, representing the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, and two players from China.
The players will split into three teams (Blue, Red and Grey) and compete against each other on 20, 21 and 22 June. Friday, 23 June, is scheduled as Rain Day, and the prospects will have a chance to attend the Cubs and Cardinals batting practice. After witnessing the first game of the London Series on the following day, players will return to their respective countries.
With over 130 years of history, Cardinals vs Cubs is one of the oldest rivalries in baseball.
The Cardinals were established as St. Louis Browns in 1882 and renamed Cardinals in 1900. They have won 11 World Series titles, most recently in 2011, second only to the New York Yankees.
The Cubs play at the iconic Wrigley Field, which opened in 1914 and was renovated in 2009 with a US$575 million investment. Originally (1876) the Chicago White Stockings, they were nicknamed Cubs in 1902 and officially took the name in 1907. They won three World Series. Their title in 2016 broke a 108-year drought since winning back-to-back World Series in 1907 and 1908.
Fun interactive and family-friendly activities will be offered around London Stadium before the first pitch, including fan zones, baseball pitching and hitting activities, live entertainment, DJs, face painting, oversized MLB photo opportunities, MLB shops and mascot character appearances.
The London Stadium will offer authentic American food, with dishes inspired by the home cities of the two clubs, including the London Series Boomstick Hot Dog and Chilli Nachos, the St. Louis Donut Burger, Cardinals and Cubs Dogs and Chicago Cheesy Brisket Sandwich.
Fans not attending the games will be able to join for free, on a first-come, first-served basis, on 23, 24 and 25 June the Trafalgar Square Takeover, a three-day celebration of the best of baseball culture, set in one of the capital’s most iconic locations.
On 23 June, teams of MLB Legends, Superstars, and Big Hitters, representing the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and St Louis Cardinals, will offer a unique live hitting spectacle set in a virtual world. They will all compete to be crowned Home Run Derby X The Cage Champions.
MLB has previously held regular season games in Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The London Series - officially MLB World Tour: London Series - happened for the first time in 2019 when arch-rivals Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees clashed on 29 and 30 June.
