Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, will be the host of an MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on Thursday night. The stadium, which opened in 1910, is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Rickwood Field has a rich history as the host for the Negro Leagues’ Birmingham Black Barons, as well as the minor leagues’ Birmingham Barons and Birmingham A’s. It also served as a spring training site for the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1900s. Legendary players like Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner have graced the field, along with Willie Mays, who began his career with the Black Barons at just 17 years old.
Mays, who sadly passed away recently at the age of 93, credited Rickwood Field as his training ground and the place where he honed his skills before making it to the majors. He mentioned that playing in the major leagues was not something he initially thought was possible until Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby broke the color barrier in baseball.
The game on Thursday night was set to honor Mays, who expressed his regret for not being able to attend the event in Alabama before his passing. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred praised Mays for his contributions to the game, stating that he inspired generations of players and fans as baseball truly became America’s National Pastime.
In addition to its baseball legacy, Rickwood Field also played a significant role in American Civil Rights history, hosting marches for voting rights and boycotts amidst a backdrop of civil unrest and bombings. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. noted that for nine innings, the ballpark provided a temporary escape from the horrors of the time, allowing Black people to enjoy the game without thinking about their struggles.
The head groundskeeper of Rickwood Field, Jabreil Weir, played a crucial role in preparing the facility for the MLB game, overseeing renovations such as a new drainage system and backstop netting. Weir expressed his excitement at being part of such a historic event and emphasized the significance of MLB coming to Birmingham, Alabama.
The matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants was scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT at Rickwood Field, with the game being televised on FOX. This game not only celebrates the history of baseball but also pays tribute to the legacy of players like Willie Mays and the impact of places like Rickwood Field in shaping the game we know and love today.