Darius Rucker Takes a Swing at Bringing the MLB to Nashville

He's joined a celebrity team hoping to found a Major League Baseball franchise called the Nashville Stars.

Written by Chris Parton
Darius Rucker Takes a Swing at Bringing the MLB to Nashville
Photo courtesy of Darius Rucker

Country star Darius Rucker is stepping up to the plate in support of starting a new Major League Baseball franchise — and he wants to do it in Nashville, Tennessee.

Announcing his involvement with Music City Baseball — a growing community organization aimed at to bringing the MLB to his adoptive hometown — Rucker is now an investor and member of a star-studded Music Advisory board. And his group has an ambitious, buzz-making set of plans.

“I have always been a big fan of Major League Baseball so I’m excited about being part of bringing a team to Tennessee,” said Rucker. “Nashville is already a great home to several professional sports teams, and I believe baseball is the next step in continuing Nashville’s reputation as one of the greatest cities in the United States.”

The idea is huge in scope. Music City Baseball hopes to found a team named the Nashville Stars in honor of a several Negro League baseball teams that called the city home in the 1940s. Backers also hope to construct a whole new stadium and entertainment district just across the Cumberland River from downtown’s Lower Broadway honky tonks, and on top of that, they want to do it all without any funding from the local government.

News of the plan started coming out last year, and since then they’ve got a wide range of actual stars to come on board. Along with Rucker are investors like pop superstar and Tennessee native Justin Timberlake, and board members Luke Combs, Kane Brown and more, plus sports and business luminaries like NFL legend Eddie George, Tony La Russa, John Loar, David Dombrowski, Lee Barfield, and Dave Stewart.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Darius to our growing team,” said Loar, who is the Managing Director of MCB. “His star-power and genuine enthusiasm for this effort will be contagious as we expand our reach and generate excitement throughout Tennessee.”

Check out the the group’s website to learn more about the plans to bring a Nashville Stars MLB team to Music City. While you’re there, you can also see a rendering of the proposed stadium and learn how they hope to celebrate diversity and keep the history of the Negro League alive.