Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest baseball park in the nation, Rickwood Field served as the home park for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Baseball legends Rollie Fingers, Burleigh Grimes, Reggie Jackson, Will Mays and Satchel Paige all played here.
Photo Credit: Nicolas Henderson (via flickr), Creative Commons License
Today, the ballpark regularly plays host to a number of amateur, police and semi-pro games. The most notable among them being the Rickwood Classic–a throwback game featuring the Barons in which both teams wear period uniforms. Each match honors a different era in Birmingham baseball history. Ballpark enthusiasts from across North America migrate to Rickwood to attend this AA regulation game every season. Many consider this game the best opportunity to experience a regulation ballgame in an historic ballpark that remains true to its original and traditional appearance. Those involved – the Barons franchise, Friends of Rickwood, and fans – fully believe that this experience in the sacred baseball cathedral is among the most underrated baseball events.
In addition, the park has served as a backdrop for scenes from the movies Cobb (1994) and Soul of the Game (1995) . Those productions contributed to the recreation of the scoreboard and press-box and the addition of 1940s period style advertisements on the outfield fence. Some of these retro-style ads have been sponsored by real Birmingham businesses, including a section sponsored by the descendants of Rick Woodward that advertises long-gone Woodward Iron Co.
Rickwood Field Park
1137 2nd Avenue West, Birmingham, AL 35203 USA
Phone: 205/458-8161
Website: www.rickwood.com
Map & Driving Directions
