The Negro Southern League has long been overshadowed by the Negro American and National Leagues when historians discuss Negro League baseball. This is partly true because the NAL and NNL included more northern franchises, which were located in larger cities. This meant they had more reliable newspaper coverage than their southern counterparts. Additionally, for most […]
1920 – 1951 The Negro Southern League Read More »
1964 marked a crossroads for the City of Birmingham. Its citizens witnessed unthinkable violence the previous fall, which had shocked the entire nation. Under the clouds of enduring sadness, the struggle for Civil Rights, and forces who stubbornly resisted change, Birmingham businessman Albert Belcher made a surprising decision. Partnering with Charlie O. Finley and the
1964 Barons First Integrated Team Read More »
Hero image(Alabama Department of Archives and History. Donated by Alabama Media Group. Unknown photographer, Birmingham News.) March 2021 Even with the thousands of games played at Rickwood Field, we are still amazed whenever someone uncovers a photograph we have never seen. This image comes courtesy of Bob Cargo of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On August 18,
December 2020 Jeb Stewart Great books often inspire sequels. For whatever reason, it is exceedingly rare for any sequel to live up to the billing of the original. However, Art Black’s Fame and Fortune in The Show: Baseball at Rickwood Field and Beyond in the Middle 1900s is the perfect follow up to Showdown at
THE RICKWOOD LIBRARY: Fame and Fortune in The Show Read More »
December 2020 Several years ago, the Friends of Rickwood purchased over 2,000 vintage baseball photographs from The Birmingham News. The pictures are truly remarkable, and many have not been seen in decades. The Friends are excited to begin unveiling many of the photographs in the newsletter as well as on our webite and social media
FROM THE RICKWOOD ARCHIVES Read More »
September 2020 Chadwick Boseman played Jackie Robinson in the biopic movie, “42” about Robinson’s integration of organized baseball in 1947. The film included numerous scenes shot at Rickwood Field in the spring of 2012. FOR board members who interacted with Boseman during the filming found him to be wonderfully down to earth, friendly, and always
REMEMBERING CHADWICK BOSEMAN (1976-2020) Read More »
September 2020 On August 10, 2020, America’s Oldest Ballpark turned 110. Rickwood is 2 years older than Fenway Park and 4 years older than Wrigley Field, which are the two oldest ballparks in the major leagues. Back in 1910, the stores in Biringham closed early as the entire community celebrated the arrival of the first
Rickwood turns 110! Read More »
September 2020 From May 30 to June 21, the Rickwood Field SABR Chapter conducted a Facebook poll to determine the best team in Rickwood Field’s history (1910- 87). 16 teams were selected from the Barons, Black Barons, and A’s. Clubs were seeded based on record, winning percentage, regular season pennants, post season performance, statistical data,
THE ’67 A’S VOTED THE BEST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF RICKWOOD FIELD, 1910-87 Read More »
The “Friends of Rickwood” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation charged with preserving the park and restoring Rickwood Field to its former glory. In the 1980’s, founding member, Tom Cosby, went to Terry Slaughter, head of Slaughter Hanson Advertising and told him, ‘We let them tear down the Terminal Station, now are we going to stand
WHO ARE THE FRIENDS OF RICKWOOD? Read More »
