See the history of Rickwood Field since Opening Day on August 18, 1910.
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- A portion of the 13,905 fans who packed Rickwood Field on June 19, 1969 wait in line to purchase their tickets for the Atlanta Braves versus the Southern League All-Stars. Officials called the game when a tornado accompanied by lightning and torrential rain knocked-out all of the lights in the park. Courtesy of Glynn West.
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- Birmingham Mayor, William Bell, greets Barons’ pitcher following the ceremonial pitch, 2010 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- Legendary Atlanta Braves broadcaster, Pete Van Wieren, throws a ceremonial opening pitch at the 2009 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- October 2, 1929 Dixie Series game played at Rickwood Field. The Dallas Steers, Texas League Champs, take-on the Birmingham Barons, Southern Association pennant winner. In this view, Rickwood’s wooden dugouts have not yet been moved to the outside of the tunnel and lowered to below ground level. Courtesy of Glynn West.
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- 1954 capacity crowd at Rickwood Field anticipates the tag at third on a Nashville base runner, with the home plate umpire covering the call. Courtesy of Birmingham News.
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- Colorized postcard view of Rickwood Field’s opening day, August 18, 1910. The hometown Barons defeated the Montgomery Climbers 3-2. Courtesy of Friends of Rickwood.
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- Barons’ first baseman, Walt Dropo, is credited with hitting Rickwood Field’s longest homerun, a May 21, 1948 shot of 467 feet. Dropo, who hit .358 for the 1948 Barons, went on to play 13 years in the big leagues. Courtesy of Birmingham News and Steve Ross.
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- Before his legendary career in Oakland, Reggie Jackson thrilled Birmingham fans with his batting power, including frequent blasts over the right field grandstand roof. In this snapshot, taken by a young fan at Rickwood camera day, the right field grandstand is visible in the background. Courtesy of Buddy Coker.
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- Barons’ pitcher, Ray Caldwell, shakes hands with Dizzy Dean prior to the September 16, 1931 Dixie series match-up between the Southern Association champion Birmingham Barons and the Texas League champion Houston Buffaloes. The home team defeated the visitors 1-0, in front of a record crowd of 20,074. Courtesy of Houston Sports Museum.
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- Barons team members, in their Yankee-style uniforms, talk with former Major Leaguer Tommy John prior to the 2006 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of the Birmingham Barons.
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- This early 1970’s pre-game image captures Hank Aaron with Rickwood’s left field grandstand in the background. In 1973 and 1974, Hank Aaron and Dusty Baker brought their Atlanta Braves to Rickwood to play Boog Powell and the Baltimore Orioles. Courtesy of Buddy Coker.
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- Very stylish ladies celebrate Rickwood Field’s 1910 opening, at the 2010 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- Southern League umpires pose with Rickwood Field’s iconic scoreboard in the background, prior to the 2010 Rickwood Classic ballgame. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- In this 1933 snapshot, Babe Ruth thrills local boys Sam Burr, Jack Cuniff, Bob Leland, Edgar Stovall, and Tom Brown. The Yankees, along with other Major League teams, frequented Rickwood Field, providing an opportunity for local fans to see the play of their diamond heroes. Courtesy of Sam Burr.
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- In this 2014 image, Mike Mills, of the rock super group R.E.M. , winds-up on Rickwood’s mound. Courtesy of Jeb Stewart.
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- Ted Williams and the Boston Red Sox frequented Rickwood between 1947 and 1952, a period during which the Barons were a Red Sox affiliate. In this image, the future Hall of Famer talks with Birmingham product, John Baumgartner. Courtesy of Bea Morris.
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- The Mississippi Braves line-up for pre-game introductions at the 2009 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- Artie Wilson, the last man to bat over .400 in professional baseball, starred at shortstop for the Black Barons from 1944 to 1948, and appeared in four East – West All-Star games. Courtesy of Baseball Hall of Fame and Library, Cooperstown, NY.
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- Hall of Fame member Harmon Killebrew tosses a ceremonial opening pitch, 2010 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- Rickwood Field served as the home park for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1920 – 1963. In this late 1940’s view, Black Baron fans gather at Rickwood’s front entrance. “Black Barons Today” is visible on the park’s marquee. Courtesy of Memphis Shelby Public Library and Information Center.
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- Dan Bankhead, one of five Bankhead brothers who played in the Negro Leagues, began his professional career with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1940. Courtesy of the Friends of Rickwood.
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- 1954 Birmingham Black Barons team photo. Black Barons’ pitcher, Charley Pride, before he went-on to country music fame, standing, back row, first on left. Courtesy of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
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- 1914 Birmingham Barons team photo. Barons’ manager, Carlton Molesworth, seated, front row, first on left. Team owner, A.H. “Rick” Woodward, kneeling, second row, first on left. The Barons outpaced Mobile by 3 games to capture the 1914 Southern Association pennant. Future Hall of Famer, Burleigh Grimes, joined the Barons late in the season, and remained with the team for 1915 and 1916. Courtesy of Susan Malick.
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- Haywood Sullivan, manager of the 1964 Birmingham A’s, Rickwood Field’s first integrated team, enters the home team clubhouse. Courtesy of the Friends of Rickwood.
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- This Rickwood image captures a young Willie Mays, in his Black Barons uniform, with the right field bleachers and grandstand in the background. Acknowledged today as one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game, Mays played three seasons with the Black Barons, 1948 – 1950. Courtesy of Memphis Shelby Public Library and Information Center.
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- Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, a native of Mobile, AL, enjoyed a baseball career that spanned decades, including a spot on the Birmingham Black Barons roster from 1942 – 1946. He earned his nickname by pitching the first game of double headers and catching the second. Courtesy of the Friends of Rickwood.
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- 1912 Birmingham Barons team photo. A.H. “Rick” Woodward, team owner, seated, front row, first on left. Carleton Molesworth, manager, standing, back row, first on left. The Barons captured the 1912 Southern Association pennant, 6 ½ games ahead of rival Mobile. Courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library.
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- National Anthem singer stands with teams and umpires prior to the 2009 Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Bill Chapman.
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- View of pre-game infield, 2009 Rickwood Classic, from the grandstand roof, the best seat in the house. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
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- Boy Scouts attend the annual Rickwood Classic. Courtesy of Bill Chapman.
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- Southern League umpires pose with Rickwood Field’s iconic scoreboard in the background, prior to the 2010 Rickwood Classic ballgame. Courtesy of Michael Wade and Wade Event Photography.
Learn more about Rickwood Field’s Centennial Celebration in the video below.
*All Photos courtesy of The Friends of Rickwood Field unless otherwise stated.