DID YOU KNOW?

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, 1910, Rickwood Field opened to great fanfare as the first ballpark in the south with a concrete and steel grandstand. These are the two known images of the original front entrance to the ballpark, where fans would have passed through the gates to get into games. These pictures predate the construction of the iconic Mission-Style stucco arcade in 1928.

Not much is known about the photo on the left, except that the woman wearing white was named Tiny Blake. She was married to Sam Blake and the Blakes were lifelong friends of Bob Cargo’s grandparents. If anyone has more information about this photo or has photos of the ballpark to share, please contact us through our website or using our Facebook page. Thanks!