What to know about Rickwood Field before the Giants-Cardinals game originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Baseball is returning to its roots in a unique way.
O San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals will head to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, for a regular season special matchup on June 20th. The venue is the former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues and is the oldest professional stadium in the country.
Before the Giants and Cardinals play in Birmingham, here’s everything you need to know about Rickwood Field:
Where is Rickwood Field located?
The field is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
When did Rickwood Field open?
Rickwood Field opened on August 18, 1910.
How did Rickwood Field get its name?
The field has the name Former Birmingham Barons owner AH “Rick” Woodward. A newspaper decided on the stadium’s name in 1910, combining the owner’s name and part of his surname.
What is the capacity of Rickwood Field?
The stadium seats 10,800 people.
Who played at Rickwood Field?
Rickwood Field was the home of the Birmingham Black Barons from 1924 to 1960. It was also the home of spring training for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1911 and 1920 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1919.
Two baseball greats played home games at Rickwood Field during their Hall of Fame careers.
Willie Mays began his professional career with the Black Barons in 1948, when he was just 17 years old, before moving to Major League Baseball in 1951. He would spend 21 seasons as part of the Giants organization, moving with the team from New York to San Francisco. .
Satchel Paige also began his professional career in Birmingham and was a Black Baron from 1927 to 1930. The legendary pitcher is widely considered the greatest Negro League player of all time.
Other Facts About Rickwood Field
Rickwood Field was the first minor league ballpark to be built of concrete and steel.
In addition to hosting baseball games, the stadium has also been used as a filming location for baseball films, including “Cobb,” “Soul of the Game” and “42.”
Rickwood Field 2024 Games
The Giants and Cardinals will meet at Rickwood Field on Thursday, June 20, with first pitch scheduled for 4:15 p.m. PT. The confrontation will air on FOX.
The Barons of Birmingham, the Chicago White Sox current Double-A affiliate, and the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, will also play at Rickwood Field on Tuesday, June 18. The teams will honor the legacy of the Negro Leagues by playing their matchup as the Birmingham Black Barons and Montgomery Gray Sox, who joined the Negro Leagues in 1920 and played in Montgomery until 1932.
