Wanderers in Wonder

The oldest Major League Baseball Park in the country. The place was locked up when we arrived for a look-see. There was a side service entrance gate open so we wandered in. As we took some pictures a young man who was cutting the outfield grass came over and we commenced to talk. An hour or so later Jabriell left us with pictures and stories about this wonderful park. The ‘Field of Dreams’ game should have been played here rather than on a movie set in Dyersville, Iowa. 

Rickwood field opened in 1910. It was built for the Birmingham Coal Barons who have been a Double A affiliate of the Reds, Athletics and now the White Sox. The Coal Barons, now the Barons, played here from 1910 – 1987. They now make their home at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The Birmingham Black Barons played here from 1920 until they disbanded in 1960. The Negro Leagues, as the saying goes, “died of Democracy”. The Pittsburgh Pirates used Rickwood as their Spring Training venue in the early 1900’s. This was a favorite field for the Major League all- star teams which barnstormed in the off season to make extra money. 

A scoreboard from way back in the day. On the left are the teams in the Negro Southern League. On the right are the teams in the Major Leagues (MLB). The NY team on the National League side would have been the Giants before they moved to San Francisco. 

Jabrielle showing us some of the memorabilia in the various storerooms/display rooms. Jabrielle and the ‘Friends of Rickwood’ are trying to turn the ball park into a museum. It has been slow going. The field is located in a rundown poor black section of Birmingham. The Barons play one game a year at Rickwood and it is used by local high school teams and Miles College. One can rent the field out for $500 a day. Our friend Mike, while working in Birmingham after he finished his tour of duty as a Navy Pilot, played softball here on a Company Picnic day. 

These seats are from the Polo Grounds once the home of the NY now SF Giants. The owners of Rickwood Field purchased 1,000 seats from the Polo Grounds before it was demolished. 

Jackie Robinson played many a game at Rickwood while a member of the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs before being signed by Branch Rickey to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. 

Many of the greats played at Rickwood…Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, Reggie Jackson and The Babe. Almost all of the greats from the Negro Leagues played at Rickwood…Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Rube Foster, Smokey Joe Williams and so many more. 

Seventeen-year old Willie Mays celebrates with his teammates after winning the Negro League Championship in 1947. 

Reggie Jackson, Mr. October, played for the Barons when they were a farm team for the Oakland A’s. 

What a special treat. Jabriell was a wonderful guide. After talking baseball for an hour or so he asked me to apply for an opening on the Friends of Rickwood Board of Directors. I told him we live on the road. He responded, ‘that doesn’t let you off the hook, the meetings are Skyped”. 

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.