1910 – 1919
1910
Rickwood Field opened August 18, 1910, to a wildly enthusiastic crowd that saw their beloved Barons beat the Montgomery Climbers, and unknowingly made history. Rickwood was the newest ballpark in the land that day, and 114 years later, stands as the oldest baseball park in America.
1910
Industialist A.H. “Rick” Woodward was not only the owner of the Barons, he never lost his passion for playing the game of his youth. He inserted himself into the staring lineup on Rickwood’s opening day, and threw the first pitch ever in his new ballpark. It was not a ceremonial pitch, but it was a ball.
1912
Player-manager Carlton Molesworth (far left standing) led the Barons to their first league championship at Rickwood in 1912. The team photo tells many stories – including the opera seats for the VIPS in the lower stands, and of course, player / owner Rick Woodward on the far left crouching
1912
Baseball was becoming the national pastime, and Birmingham was baseball-wild. Early images show standing room only crowds not only in the seats and bleachers but on the fences and ground. Baseball was king.
1912
Rickwood’s original configuration included uncovered bleachers down the right field line, a very distant wooden fence, and a prominent and right field scoreboard.
1912
Civic pride was on the line every year as Birmingham competed with other league cities to win the trophy for the largest opening day crowd. Birmingham won the trophy in 1912, 1914 and 1915. Pictured here are the 1912 and 1915 trophies which been located and returned home to Rickwood.
1917
Over the years, Rickwood Field has received a number of updates. Thanks to the Rickwood archives, we can take a look back and see what the original entrance to the park looked like.
1919
The Birmingham Black Barons are formed from local company teams and join the Negro Leagues. The Black Barons enter into an agreement with Woodward to rent Rickwood when his Barons were out of town. Fans were always large, and always segregated. (is this earliest team photo at Rickwood that we have?) Early BBB teams featured Alabama native Satchel Paige.