Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. It was built in 1910 by industrialist Rick Woodward, who was the owner of the Birmingham Barons. Woodward wanted to create a state-of-the-art facility for his team, inspired by major league ballparks of the time, such as Philadelphia's Shibe Park and Pittsburgh's Forbes Field.
The field was designed by architect Paul Davis and featured a grandstand made of steel and concrete, which was quite advanced for its time. Rickwood Field officially opened on August 18, 1910, with the Birmingham Barons playing against the Montgomery Climbers. The Barons won the inaugural game 3-2 in front of a crowd of over 10,000 fans.
Throughout its history, Rickwood Field has been home to several teams, most notably the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. The Black Barons played at Rickwood from the 1920s until the integration of baseball in the late 1940s. The field saw many legendary players, including Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Reggie Jackson.
Rickwood Field was also the site of numerous significant events beyond baseball. It hosted football games, boxing matches, and even concerts. In the 1940s, the field underwent several renovations to modernize its facilities, including the installation of lights for night games.
By the 1980s, Rickwood Field had become outdated, and the Birmingham Barons moved to a new stadium. However, the field was not abandoned. Efforts to preserve Rickwood as a historic site gained momentum, and in 1992, the Friends of Rickwood organization was established to maintain and restore the ballpark. Today, Rickwood Field hosts the annual Rickwood Classic, a vintage baseball game where the Barons return to play in throwback uniforms, celebrating the rich history of the park and the sport.
This week, in a special tribute to the Negro Leagues, Minor League Baseball teams from Montgomery and Birmingham, as well as Major League Baseball teams from St. Louis and San Francisco, will play games at Rickwood Field. These events are part of an effort to honor the legacy of the Negro Leagues and celebrate the historic significance of Rickwood Field, bringing renewed attention to the contributions of African American players and the rich history of baseball in Birmingham.