Rickwood Field is one of the most historic ballparks and sports landmarks in the United States. Memorial MLB game to honor Negro Leagues in wake of Willie Mays’ death
Its history centers around players like Willie Mays and Satchel Paige who later got their start in the Negro Leagues to pursue their dream of playing professional baseball – which Jackie Robison, who also played at Rickwood – began playing in 1947 when he broke the color barrier of Major League Baseball.
Now, the nation’s oldest ballpark will revisit its history on Thursday night when the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals travel to Birmingham, Alabama for a special single regular season game.
Here’s what you need to know about why MLB returns to Birmingham and Rickwood Field for a special commemorative game on Thursday:
Why are the MLB, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals playing at Rickwood Field?
The Giants and Cardinals play at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday, June 20, as part of MLB’s first commemorative MLB: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues game.
That’s not the only piece of history Thursday. Following to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Thursday’s NL Central vs. NL West clash between the Cardinals and Giants will feature the first all-black umpiring crew in MLB history. Alan Porter will be behind the dish while Adrian Johnson, CB Bucknor, Jeremy Rehak and Malachi Moore will make up the rest of the crew at base and replay center.
In June 2023MLB declaration the addition of the game to its “special event games” — such as the MLB Little League Classic, Field of Dreams game and the London Series. According to MLB.com, the field cost $5 million in renovations to bring it up to MLB regulations and prepare it for games.
History of Rickwood Field
Opened: August 18, 1910
Rickwood Field opened on August 18, 1910 as the oldest ballpark in the United States and one of five Negro League ballparks still standing today, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. At 114 years old, Rickwood Field is larger than both Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.
As prior reported by The Tuscaloosa News, Rickwood Field was a “passion project” for Birmingham industrialist Allen Harvey “Rick” Woodward. The field itself, modeled after the Pittsburgh Pirates’ old Forbes Field, was the first minor league ballpark built of concrete and steel.
The first team to play at Rickwood Field was the Birmingham Barons, until the Birmingham Black Barons, formerly the Birmingham Stars of the Negro Southern League, began playing there in 1920. The Black Barons were formed because the Barons were not allowed to play on the Black team At the time, no black players were allowed.
The Black Barons, who played at Rickwood Field when the Barons were on the road, moved to the Negro National League in 1924, a “major league caliber” league according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1927, the Black Barons won the second half of the Negro National League pennant, thanks to then-young Satchel Paige.
The Black Barons played at Rickwood Field until 1960, shortly before the Negro Leagues folded altogether. The Black Barons were quite successful in the 1940s, winning three Negro American League pennants in 1943, 1944 and 1948. MLB teams also played spring training games at Rickwood Field during this time, as they returned to their MLB hometown from Florida. That’s how players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Stan Musial added their names to playing at Rickwood Field.
One of the reasons the Black Barons and later the Barons stopped playing at Rickwood Field in 1961 was due to issues of race and segregation involving Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan. Baseball would return to Rickwood Field in 1967 when the then-Kansas City Athletics brought its Double-A affiliate to Birmingham, where they remained until 1975. Since then the Detroit Tigers (1981-1986), who also brought back the “Barons” name. , and the Chicago White Sox (1986–present) play their Double-A affiliates in Birmingham and Rickwood Field.
Players playing at Rickwood Field
The list of former MLB players who played at Rickwood Field – either in the Negro Leagues or MLB or both – is quite legendary. According to MLB.com, 181 Hall of Famers have either played or managed at Field of Rickwood.
While Hank Aaron, “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks, Paige and Robinson are on that list, perhaps the most famous player to play at Rickwood Field is Birmingham’s own, the late Willie “Shehe” Mays, who played three seasons for Birmingham before signing with the then-New York Giants in 1950. Black Baron first.
Here is a list of some Hall of Fame players who have played at Field of Rickwood, according to MLB.com:
Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Ernie Banks
Satchel Page
Jackie Robinson
Larry Dobbie
Roy Campanella
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Lou Gehrig
Ty Cobb
Mickey Mantle
Stan Musial
Joe DiMaggio
Yogi Bera
Roberto Clemente