American Legion Post 56 of Albert Lea will host an event Sunday to commemorate the 70-year anniversary of the Albert Lea Packers vs. Bancroft Lions game, the first game to be played at Memorial Park in Bancroft, according to a press release.

The anniversary falls the same weekend the Albert Lea Lakers play the Bancroft Bandits in a Pioneer League game Saturday in Bancroft.

The event starts at noon Sunday and will feature classic baseball food, hot dogs and apple pie, as well as a guest speaker.

The guest speaker is author Tom Murray, who wrote “Fathers, Sons and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball.” Murray’s father played in the game 70 years ago as the third baseman.

Murray will be at the Lakers game Saturday, and will recap the game at the Legion on Sunday as well as talk about why baseball is so important for small communities.

After the Sunday event at the Legion, the Lakers will play their second home game of the season at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hayek Field against the Storm Lake Whitecaps.