< ! -- Image with inadequate rationale removed : Selig came under heavy fire from Native Americans , who feel that the involvement of the Cleveland Indians was a slap in the face to the Cherokee people who still live in the Memphis area after the infamous Trail of Tears passed through less than 200 years ago . The '' New York Daily News '' called the situation a " primer on how to inadvertently stage an ironic insult to a local and large population of Natives " and insinuated that the league has ( inadvertently ) sabotaged the game by inviting the Indians . The sports blog Deadspin asked the question " If the Indians win , do Native Americans get civil rights ? " On December 3 , 2007 , league officials announced details for the second annual game . It was played on March 29 , 2008 . The New York Mets beat the Chicago White Sox 3 &ndash; 2 . Martin Luther King III threw out the first pitch . This has been the lowest attended game , to date , primarily because it was held at a minor league park during cool , rainy weather
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Civil Rights Game