The History |
The Dream |
The Museum |
What You Can Do
- August 18, 1910, Dawned sultry hot and the city was strangely silent.
Something bigger than business was going on out in the west end. Something
big enough to draw 10,000 good citizens outdoors and across town in their
stiff white collars and suits on a sweltering summer day. The coming of
this moment had captivated an entire city. And at 3:30 that August afternoon,
the moment came. With the pitch of a baseball, one young man placed a gleaming
new diamond in baseball's crown, Rickwood Field. Little did he or the 10,000
know this gem of a park would one day be the last remnant of the glorious
early days of American baseball. All the other great parks of that day would
see baseballs give way to wrecking balls, and Rickwood would stand alone.
Bases loaded with history, as the oldest baseball park in America.
THE HISTORY
STIRRING UP DIAMOND DUST
- Rickwood Field was the passionate pursuit of a young Birmingham, Alabama
industrialist, Rick Woodward. While still in his 20s, Woodward bought controlling
interest in the city's professional baseball beam, the Coal Barons. He then
sought help from the legendary Connie Mack in designing "The Finest
Minor League Ballpark Ever" in this booming iron-and-steel town, the
fastest growing city in the nation at that time. Woodward's passion was
contagious and, fueled by fervent publicity, the entire city of Birmingham
was baseball-wild by the park's opening day, closing for business in honor
of the event.
- Modeled primarily after Forbes Field in Pittsburge, Rickwood Field lived
up to its owner's wildest dreams. Over the years, this diamond dazzled with
play by some of the greatest palyers in baseball history. The 1910s brought
standing-room-only crowds and future hall of famers like Ty Cobb, Christy
Mathewson, Honus " The Flying Dutchman" Wagner, and Birmingham's
Hometeam sensation Burleigh Grimes, the last legal spitball pitcher in the
Big Leagues.
- Meanwhile, in an enterprising arrangement with Woodward, the newly formed
Black Barons were also drawing overflow crowds to Rickwood Field. Alternating
weekends with the Barons, the Black Barons provided a thrilling pastime
for the thousands who came to watch Negro League immortals such as all-time
Negro American League home run record holder George" Mule" Suttles.
- The Yankees and Babe Ruth were frequent visitors here, the Bambino wooing
crowds with towering home runs into the right-field stands. Rogers Hornsby,
Shoeless Joe Jackson, Dizzy Dean pitched here - and lost 1-0 - in one of
the most famous games in Rickwood history. Squaring off against the Barons'
Ray Caldwell, a 43-year-old pitcher in the twilight of his career - the
brash young phenom Dizzy Dean (who had guaranteed victory) struck out none
to Caldwell's five, with the winning hit coming from Barons' second baseman
and Alabama Hall of Famer Billy Bancroft.
- The Diamond kept shining with stars like the Barons' own Pie Traynor,
a future Hall of Famer considered by many to be the best 3rd baseman ever,
and Stan "The Man" Musial, long remembered for the home run he
hit clear over Rickwood's right-field bleachers. All the while, the Black
Barons were also making history with legends like star pitcher Leroy "Satchell"
Paige who won more games for the Black Barons than for any other professional
team; playing manager lorenzo "Piper" Davis; and future Hall of
Famer Willie Mays who grew up just minutes from Rickwood Field and, as a
16-year-old high school junior, was starting centerfielder for the '48 championship
Black Barons.
- Throughout those glorious early years, record-breaking crowds overflowed
these stands. And, for everyone who walked through these gates, the experience
was nothing short of magic. They experienced the innocence, the wonder,
the romance of baseball. The way baseball was meant to be.
THE DREAM
DUSTING OFF THE DIAMOND
- Today, Rickwood Field is being restored to the dazzling diamond of its
early days. But, more than just preserving an historic structure, we are
creating a place to relive the magic of baseball's glory years. Why bother?
Read the papers. Watch the news of the game. Find, if you can, the passion
of the game America fell in love with a long time ago. With each of the
old grandstands that fell, it seems, we lost more than just an old structure.
We lost a bit of romance, a bit of all that is truly good about America.
- And, so, for those hopeless romantics who are still in love but a little
disenchanted with the game, we are preserving Rickwood Field. Our dream
is for rickwood Field to be a working museum, a place to actually see and
experience baseball as it once was.
- Today, walking through these gates is like stepping back in time. Rickwood
doesn't just look like a park from years ago. The entire park and everyone
in it seems to live and breathe the sensation of another day and time. Teams
are playing again on this gem of a diamond, but the players are in the jaunty
uniforms of years ago. The drop-in scoreboard is back, alive with the excitement
of the two privileged youngsters busily tending it. The vintage signs in
the outfield are back. The gazebo-style press box is back, inspired by the
original 1910 blueprints. In fact, many of the photos you see in this page
are not old photos, but snapshots of the way we like to play baseball today
at Rickwood Field. In a world that more and more steals the joy of life's
simple pleasures, we're working to create a place that brings it all home.
THE MUSEUM
BASEBALL HEAVEN ON EARTH
- You know, they say that when a baseball legend dies his spirit plays on
forever. If this is true, then Rickwood Field must be heaven. Not only are
we rekindling the romance in the ballpark itself, but the planned Museum
of Southern Baseball History will bring the Rickwood legends to life and
bring visitors face-to-face with the golden days of baseball.
- From the actual bats that swung the course of history to the uniforms
that outfitted mere men for their journey into immortality, it will all
be here. For people who truly love baseball, it could very well be the closest
you'll ever get to heaven on earth.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
TO PRESERVE RICKWOOD FIELD
- We've come a long way in this dream we have for Rickwood. But we have
a long way to go. Please join us in making the magic happen. There are all
kinds of ways to be a part of keeping America's Oldest Ballpark alive. One
small way to pitch in - catch any of these great gift offers for yourself
or for friends or family members. If you thought time had long since run
out on the golden days of baseball, discover this one magical place where
we've managed to stop the clock.
- A. Friends of Rickwood Field Membership
Annual membership dues are $25. Members receive certificate suitable for
framing. Quarterly newsletter of Rickwood News, and 10% discount on future
Rickwood merchandise purchases.
- B. Engraved Brick
Great way to honor friends. Family members or yourself. $50 gets name
engraved on brick to be installed at Rickwood. Certificate mailed to confirm
purchase. (Limit: 16 characters. 2 lines)
- C. Hat
Vintage. Short Bill. One size fits all: heather, with green bill and embroidered
Rickwood logo $20, plus $2.00 postage and handling.
- D. T-Shirt
White with green and yellow Rickwood logo on front: sizes L, XL, $15 plus
$2.00 postage and shipping.
- E. Box Seat
Sponsor a replacement box seat for $200. Sponsor's contribution pays for
new vintage style seat with sponsor's name engraved and installed on back
of seat.
- F. Historic Frame
Purchase classic photo framed in authentic wood from Rickwood Field restoration.
Each frame is hand-made. $150 includes postage and handling. (limited quantity)
- G. Bases Loaded With History
By Timothy Whitt. Fascinating, colorful history of Rickwood legends from
opening day in 1910 through today. Babe, Ty, Satchel, Willie, Barons and
Black Barons. (limited edition) A must for baseball fans and historians
alike. Hardback, $22 plus $3.00 postage and handling.
Friends of Rickwood Field
2100 Morris Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama 35203 USA
or call us at 1 205 458-8161
