The Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs will head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to headline the 2027 MLB Little League Classic presented by New York Life, Major League Baseball announced on Sunday night.
A Thursday Night Showcase at Historic Bowman Field
The special national game is scheduled for Thursday, August 19, 2027, at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. made the official announcement during the ESPN broadcast of the 2026 Little League Classic matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers.
The fixture marks the 10th year of the annual showcase, held in connection with the Little League Baseball World Series presented by T-Mobile. Major League Baseball confirmed that the Blue Jays will serve as the designated home team for the contest, while the Chicago Cubs are slated to be the road team.
Broadcast Details and Weekend Schedule Impact
The game will air exclusively on ESPN in the United States and on Sportsnet in Canada. It will start at 7:10 p.m. ET / 6:10 p.m. CT, and the broadcast will also be accessible via the ESPN App.
Following the Thursday night matchup in Williamsport, the Cubs will have Friday off. Both teams will then return to action for a weekend series against each other in Toronto.
Connecting Major Leaguers with Young Fans
Upholding the custom set when Major League Baseball initiated the program in August 2017, players from both the Cubs and the Blue Jays are scheduled to be present at Little League World Series fixtures earlier on August 19. The initiative aims to support youth baseball development and player engagement with young fans. Later that evening, Little League players and their families will fill the stands at Historic Bowman Field.
The matchup will mark the first time the Little League Classic is played on a Thursday. This positions it to headline ESPN’s broadcast slate for a day that highlights youth baseball all the way up to the Major Leagues.
A Decade of Tradition in Williamsport
The annual showcase was first played in August 2017 between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals, omitting only the 2020 season due to the pandemic-shortened season. Later editions showcased the Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Mets in 2018, the Chicago Cubs facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019, the Los Angeles Angels playing the Cleveland Guardians in 2021, the Boston Red Sox taking on the Baltimore Orioles in 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies meeting the Washington Nationals in 2023, the Detroit Tigers battling the New York Yankees in 2024, the Seattle Mariners squaring off against the New York Mets in 2025, and the Milwaukee Brewers opposing the Atlanta Braves in 2026.
When the Cubs last appeared in the event in 2019, they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1. Left fielder Ian Happ, who was part of that 2019 squad, recalled the atmosphere during an interview with the Chicago Tribune, noting the unique opportunity to interact directly with the participating youth players.
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