Located in Birmingham, Ala., Rickwood Field stands as the oldest professional baseball stadium in the United States. Over its impressive 113-year history, this iconic stadium has hosted legendary players such as Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, who happened to grow up near the park. In a remarkable turn of events, Rickwood Field will once again bask in the spotlight as it hosts a Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals on June 20, 2024.
Rickwood Field, which predates both Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, first opened its doors in 1910 and has served as the home stadium for various teams, including Mays’s Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League and the Birmingham Barons, a minor league team.
MLB recently announced this game as part of its ongoing efforts to showcase regular-season games in unique and memorable settings. Known as Specialty Games, previous iterations have taken place at Fort Bragg, N.C., the site of the College World Series in Omaha, and Williamsport, Pa., home to the Little League World Series.
Furthermore, MLB has organized two Field of Dreams games near the filming location of the iconic 1989 baseball film “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, Iowa. The Chicago White Sox faced the New York Yankees in 2021, and last season, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds had their turn in the picturesque corn fields. However, due to construction at the site, there won’t be a Field of Dreams game in 2023.
The date chosen for the Rickwood Field game significantly aligns with Juneteenth. MLB intends to celebrate the history of the Negro leagues and pays homage to the game’s greatest living player, Willie Mays, who attended high school just a stone’s throw away from Rickwood Field. Mays, who began his professional career with the Black Barons while still a teenager in 1948, signed with the New York Giants the following year.
In response to the announcement, Mays expressed his disbelief and gratitude, stating, “I can’t believe it. I never thought I’d see in my lifetime a Major League Baseball game being played on the very field where I played baseball as a teenager.” He concluded his statement by emphasizing the importance of remembering the Negro leagues and their impact on the sport.
With a seating capacity approaching 11,000 spectators, Rickwood Field was constructed by the Birmingham industrialist Harvey Woodward, nicknamed Rick. The stadium’s design drew inspiration from Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and Shibe Park in Philadelphia. On its grand opening day, August 18, 1910, businesses in Birmingham closed their doors to celebrate this momentous occasion.
During its early years, Rickwood Field hosted exhibition games featuring teams from both the American and National Leagues, including the Yankees. However, the stadium primarily served as home to the Barons, a Southern League powerhouse that boasted renowned players like Pie Traynor and Burleigh Grimes. In later years, notable athletes such as Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan took to the field for the Barons.
Nevertheless, the most significant historical moments at Rickwood Field stem from the Black Barons, a Negro leagues team. Notable stars like Mule Suttles and Satchel Paige left an indelible mark on the park’s history. In 1948, with Mays on their roster, the Black Barons faced off against the Homestead Grays in the final Negro World Series. While the Grays emerged victorious, William Greason, who later became the first Black pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, secured Birmingham’s lone victory. Even today, at the age of 98, Greason resides in Birmingham and serves as the pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, located less than two miles from Rickwood Field.
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