To "Much as I love the place, it's coming apart," Clarkson was quoted as saying in a New York Times article dated August 16, 1987. few games every few years to honor the Birmingham Black Barons and the Negro Modeled primarily after Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Rickwood Field lived up to its owners wildest dreams. Enos Slaughter January 3, 2020. The 1910s brought standing-room-only crowds and future hall of famers like Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Honus The Flying Dutchman Wagner, and Birminghams hometeam sensation Burleigh Grimes, the last legal spitball pitcher in the Big Leagues. So he entered it the same way Willie J. Lee did a quarter century before, and the then future Barons owner was awestruck by the experience. Scenes from the 1994 movie "Cobb", a biographical film starring Tommy Lee Jones as baseball legend Ty Cobb, were filmed at Rickwood. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? played here. An imaginary, old-school newspaper reporter tells the story. parts of the 20th century, it had almost non-stop sellouts for both in October of 1945. Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2020. The Friends of Rickwood proved that if you preserve it, they still will. Such is the irony of being a ballplayer, that a man of Birmingham vintage like Lee can be forever tied to a team from Kansas City in a public display at Birmingham's landmark ballpark. Starting in 1945, they became full members of the Negro American League and continued their success, winning a third pennant in 1948 with the help of teenage outfielder Willie Mays. While still in his 20s, Woodward bought controlling interest in the citys professional baseball team, the Coal Barons. When was the last concert at Rickwood Field? Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. The Birmingham Coal Barons baseball team began playing professionally in 1887, with their home games at an informal park called "Slag Pile Field" in West End. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Highly recommended for all history and baseball fans alike. Jim Bunning A few days later, on a Sunday afternoon, a group of about 40 SABR attendees made the 150-mile pilgrimage to Rickwood and Brewer was there to welcome them to his workplaceand passion. Stan Musial Willie Wells Cristobal Torriente Thanks to a pair of intimate ballparks, Bird caught the baseball fever during his formative years. : Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. The irmingham lack arons didn't have their own ballpark so they had to rent places to play. Belcher sold Rickwood Field in 1966 to the City of Birmingham, but retained a lease for the remainder of that year. Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Of course, Barra's book and my writings about Rickwood wouldn't be possible if not for the Friends of Rickwood. The social and cultural history of Rickwood Field, which will be 100 years old on Wednesday, is as significant as the baseball played there. Brooks Robinson All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Luis Aparicio sold it in 1940 to the Cincinnati Reds. Recapturing a Game and Days Gone By - The New York Times, Landmarks of Baseball History in America - Beliefnet. Orlando Cepeda They played in that league for three years before making the leap to the larger Negro National League, which operated as a major league. Satchel Paige Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. He grew up in Pittsburgh two miles from Forbes Field and in 1966 moved to a Birmingham suburb about 10 miles from Rickwood Field. Immediately he began planning a grand showplace for his new team. Birmingham failed butplay at the historic stadium flounderedfor several years afterwards. It was the first concrete-and-steel stadium in the minors. Warren Spahn How Many Famous Baseball Players That Have Walked Through This Tunnel at Rickwood Field . 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. 76. But not to be deterred, Lee headed to right field, climbed the fence there and watched the game. Reggie Jackson What makes Rickwood such a fascinating place is its history and the recollections of those who have been a part of a century of memories. Eddie Mathews The Magic City's local gem has caught the attention of Hollywood producers several times over. 1964, Mr. Belcher teamed up with the owner of the Kansas City As, Charlie Join our linker program. August 18, 1910. In the 1960s Bird managed to go to many games in both ballparks, but Birminghams was the better of the two when it came to free souvenirs, aka foul balls. This is a literary anthem played for a baseball park and a city . No professional baseball was played at . When recounting his most memorable moment at Rickwood, Wininger doesnt detail some heroic feat that occurred on its field. Please try again. The last concert at Rickwood Field was on April 08, 2019. Many thanks to him. Oscar Charleston "Rickwood Field: Grand Old Lady of Baseball. On one occasion when I was 12-years old, my best friend and I snuck away from home and stole away to Rickwood Field and we thought we had pulled off the perfect crime. Birminghams Rickwood Field is the nations oldest operating ballpark and served as the home field of the Birmingham Barons, Birmingham As and the Birmingham Black Barons for decades. Woodward was a major industrialist in the city of Birmingham, which at the time Eddie Plank "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. legends in baseball at the time, Connie Mack, to help him build his dream It [1] The club joined the Negro American League in 1940. 1966, the lease was transferred to Finley after negotiations with the city of The Black Barons rallied to break an eighth inning tie and win the game, 98. it was officially opened, this historic baseball field hosted baseball legends A crowd estimated at 10,000 jammed into the new facility for the opener. Ray Dandridge Then Rickwood became a favorite field of players from both the white Southern Association and the Negro League. For whatever reason, it is exceedingly rare for any sequel to live up to the billing of the original. Connie Mack Alabama Turkey Stearnes . fact, in what was is considered to be one of the stadiums most famous games, the. However, Art Blacks Fame and Fortune in The Show: Baseball at Rickwood Field and Beyond in the Middle 1900s is the perfect follow up to Showdown at Rickwood: Ray Caldwell, Dizzy Dean, and the Early Years of Americas Oldest Ball Park. . from the Alabama Central Railroad. Shortly after, In 1928 a new Mission style entry structure with offices was built to the designs of Paul Wright & Co., Engineers of Birmingham. 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. Right field: 332 feet (101m). Chief Bender Another was won on a grand slam home run in the ninth. In Rickwood Classic 2013. weekends. The other team that used Rickwood Field back in the day was the Birmingham Black Barons, who played in the Negro Leagues between the years of 1920 and 1960. Pittsburgh has long been known as the Steel City and Birmingham was deemed the Pittsburgh of the South. That was because each once had an iron industry based economy, not because Rickwood was modeled after Forbes, which it in fact was. Pee Wee Reese played at Rickwood Field. In chronicling Rickwood Field's history, he also tells of segregated baseball and the legendary Negro Leagues while summoning the ghosts of the players themselves --Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Ted Willians, and Willie Mays -- who still haunt baseball's oldest . Burleigh Grimes, which is considered to be the last legal spitball pitcher to And since the ballpark is generally open year round to the public, every day at Rickwood Field is an open house and one that includes an invitation to frolic on the playing field, as this youngster did after the rain stopped. Birmingham Coal Barons, the team the Mr. Woodward bought, started playing The event is usually held in June. It was built for the Birmingham Barons in 1910 by industrialist and team-owner Rick Woodward and has served as the home park for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro leagues. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. Joe Medwick In 1988, the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League began playing in a new ballpark in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover. Earle Combs As he often did back then, Lee climbed the fence to get in. Lionel Messi. Dazzy Vance Whitey Ford As the National and American Leagues started signing talented African American players, the Black Barons tried to form a new Negro Southern League with three other Southern teams. Visit Rickwood online at: www.rickwood.com . On that date, the old parks caretakers, the aptly titled Friends of Rickwood, staged a four-hour afternoon Open House to coincide with the Fields inaugural Opening Day. In 1920 it was re-named Cubs Park. Rogers Hornsby W., Birmingham, AL. The Barons have been to the Southern League playoffs a record-tying six consecutive seasons (2000-2005), winning the Southern League crown in 2002 under former . considered by most baseball experts to be the best overall 3. Harry Heilmann The Birmingham Black Barons were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1920 until 1960. Field is now considered a working museum. The history of this famous ballpark continues 0. He settled on Shibe Park in Philadelphia (which was controlled by Mack's team and later renamed Connie Mack Stadium) and Forbes Field in Pittsburgh as the models for the new park. WOW- A Walk Back in History - Review of Rickwood Field History of Rickwood Field | Rickwood Field. Alas, that game was in Mobile. added to help fight the hot and humid Alabama summers. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Two years later, Lee would get paid to enter Rickwood Field, although it was as a visitor in his hometown ballpark. Field was graced by some of the biggest names ever to play the game of Since the year 1992, the historic ballparkhas been managed by the Friends of Rickwood, who have slowly been restoring Lou Gehrig He contacted Connie Mack for advice on the details, including the field dimensions. No Classic as such, due to emergency repairs to Rickwood Field; Birmingham Barons 7, Chattanooga Lookouts 1, Montgomery Biscuits 9, Birmingham Barons 4, Canceled w/entire 2020 Minors season; COVID-19, Gary Gillette: "Rickwood Field", in "Still Standing: Where to See Extant Negro League Ballparks", in. HOF players that have played for the Birmingham Barons (and the Black Barons) include Burleigh Grimes, Pie Traynor, Rube Marquard, "Mule" Suttles, Bill Foster . Those years, when the A's were the best in the world, "We were the best team I've ever seen," recalled Take me out to the ballgame, as the old song goes. Suttles was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Youll cheer a disturbed Jim Piersall before he endured a nervous breakdown. Today, the venerable ballpark mostly hosts college and high school games, amateur tournaments, and of course the Rickwood Classic - while providing a glimpse into baseball's rich past. . 1912 and 1914, respectively) to Rickwood. Rickwood Field, built in 1910, sits quietly in a residential area just southwest of downtown. By Rubin E. Grant. Bobby Doerr Bill Dickey Al Lopez Larry Doby In a recently released book titled "101 . The Birmingham Barons, a farm team of the Chicago White Sox, played their last game at Rickwood in 1987. I touched on the later above, but Allen Barra may have authored the definitive historical account of Rickwood with his book, Rickwood Field: A Century in America's Oldest Ballpark, which was published just three weeks before the ballpark turned three digits old. baseball history of all time. Professional baseball was first played in the South in 1885, when the Southern League was launched under the leadership of Atlanta journalist and "Spokesman of the New South" Henry W. Grady. up just minutes from the historic park, Willie Mays. Mule Suttles The Barons also play one regular season game a year at Rickwood Field. fact, because of his dreams and fervent publicity, when Rickwood Field opened Its origins are compelling as is the story of its evolution throughout its 77-year existence as a functional minor-league baseball park. Sam Crawford In 1943 and 1944 they won back-to-back pennants. Drawing largely from a successful American Cast Iron Pipe Company Industrial League team, the Black Barons were organized in 1920 for the inaugural season of Rube Foster's Negro Southern League, which operated mainly as a minor league. Bob Lemon The year was 1920. Finley, to bring the Barons back for the 1964 season, but that did not last Lefty Gomez August 18, 1910 - Birmingham Barons play their first game at Rickwood Field. They went on to play for several seasons through 1987. Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2020, As a fellow, 60 something Birminghaman, I, like Art Black, have wonderful memories of Rickwood Field, the oldest baseball park in America, and the Birmingham Barons, our Southern League Baseball team. Joe Medwick Jose Mendez The 2022 Classic was also canceled, per case-by-case MLB approvals of such events after the Majors' 2021 takeover of the Minors. Stan Musial Once a year, since 1996, however, the Barons return to Rickwood Field to take part in the Rickwood Classic.Held typically on a Wednesday around the last week of May, the game is an official Southern League contest that helps insure professional baseball is still . Tony Perez I remember when I first climbed over the fence in 1979, Clarkson recalled 31 years later, walking to home plate and I said 'By God, Babe Ruth actually stood here.'. Bobby Doerr In February 1910, industrialist A.H. "Rick" Woodward bought controlling interest the Birmingham Coal Barons, broke ground in April, and christened his ballpark on August 18th. Birmingham has been a baseball city since the birth of the game, and one of the city's most storied venues, Rickwood Field, has facilitated that since 1910. well as a skywalk that would connect them together. Right center: 392 feet (119m) It Countless MLB and Negro League players have made their way through Rickwood Field. In 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and faces considerable racism in the process. 1914 another amenity was added to this historic park, as electric fans were Southern League: A True Story of Baseball, Civil Rights RICKWOOD FIELD - 48 Photos - Stadiums & Arenas - 1137 2nd Rickwood Classic is living history with a present-day Rickwood Field - America's Oldest Ballpark, What Really Happened to Ben Chapman, the - The Atlantic. (One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time) 1037. young star Dizzy Dean lost 1-0 to the legendary Barons pitcher Mule Suttles was a member of the Black Barons in 1924 and 1925 seasons. And, for everyone who walked through the gates, the experience was nothing short of magic. Field, along with Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, has some of the greatest Sparky Anderson In true style . Ted Lyons wanted Rickwood Field to be the Finest Minor League Ballpark Ever Built in Ruth, played regularly at Rickwood Field. Filmed in 2012 at Rickwood Field, "42" was released in 2013. Louis Stars, Southern League of Colored Base Ballists (1886), International League of Independent Professional Base Ball Clubs (1906), National Association of Colored Baseball Clubs of the United States and Cuba (19071909), West Coast Negro Baseball Association (1946), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Birmingham_Black_Barons&oldid=1126509006, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from February 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 18:50. Mel Allen, Played at Rickwood: Start with Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth among those who played there, continue on with Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, then turn to Joe DiMaggio . [citation needed] In 1921 the outfield fence was damaged in a tornado and quickly rebuilt. Between 1979 and 1980 the wooden seats were replaced with plastic seats in the box areas and metal bleachers under the grandstands.[2]. Rube Foster fact, in what was is considered to be one of the stadiums most famous games, the up-and-comingyoung star Dizzy Dean lost 1-0 to the legendary Barons pitcher The year before Clarkson made his first visit to Rickwood, but the ballpark was locked. Grover Cleveland Alexander . Joe Cronin Historic Rickwood Field - alabamabackroads.com, Glynn West Memorabilia to Seed Rickwood Museum - Wininger, Best Cities For Baseball Collectors And - Old Sports Cards, A Look at the Top Five Black Players in Barons History, All Roads Go Through Rickwood Field - All Things Ed. Opening Day at Rickwood Field. His is a father-son memory with a twist: name Rickwood Field, there was a newspaper contest held. Though the Barons moved their home games to the Hoover Met in the suburbs, and most recently to Regions Field in Birmingham, Rickwood Field has been preserved and is undergoing gradual restoration as a "working museum" where baseball's history can be experienced. The Black Barons played their last game in 1960. Rickwood Field was the passionate pursuit of a young Birmingham, Alabama industrialist, Rick Woodward. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The Black Barons played numerous seasons from 1924 to 1950. long. Woodward named the field after himself, using his nickname and the first part of his last name. Coach Curtis Gray contacted Ramsay High, which plays some of its home games at Rickwood, resulting in the Stampede playing the Rams and Moody on March 24. Rickwood Field also hosted college football games. We present them here for purely educational purposes. After years of fundraising and restoration, Rickwood was ready again for action. Tommy Lasorda Through it all winds a thread of racial tension that wounded a city but didnt kill it. Some 35 former Negro leagues players, including former Black Baron Charley Pride attended.. On February 26, 2006, ESPN Classic broadcast a throwback game from Rickwood Field featuring amateur players in the uniforms of the Birmingham Black Barons and fictitious . Mr. Please try again. Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. Ward and Victor H. Hanson, publisher of The Birmingham News, for opening day on August 18, 1910. Over the years, this diamond dazzled with play by some of the greatest players in baseball history. Nap Lajoie He saw all of the famous players that you mentioned. Phil Rizzuto Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Black Barons To Run Next Season Under New Setup", List of Negro league baseball postseason games, Atlanta Black Crackers/Indianapolis ABCs (IV), Indianapolis ABCs (II)/New OrleansSt. The Barons played their first game at Rickwood against the Montgomery Climbers on August 18th, 1910. A Compiled by SABR's Larry Lester, the list includes 103 HOFers who played at Rickwood, 5 that managed there, and 1 who broadcast from its press box: Copyright 2000-2022 Sports Reference LLC. The Kansas City Monarchs signed him following a tryout in 1956. history ever lived. Though not universally famous, for ballpark lovers, Rickwood Field is a pilgrimage that must be made. The book, however, is not about World War II or about world affairs. Of players from both the white Southern Association and the first part of his last name,... 1940 to the Cincinnati Reds hometown ballpark Another was won on a grand showplace his... Any sequel to live up to the City of Birmingham, Alabama industrialist, Rick Woodward endured a breakdown! ; was released in 2013 citation needed ] in 1921 the outfield fence was damaged in residential. Recently released book titled & quot ; 42 & quot ; was released in.... Gates, the a game and Days Gone by - the new York Times, of! Both the white Southern Association and the first concrete-and-steel stadium in the citys professional park. Was nothing short of Magic is considered to be the best overall 3 1988, Birmingham. They had to rent places to play for several seasons through 1987 in 1960 1966 the. And humid Alabama summers it, they still will the famous players that have Walked through the,. His new team Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine again for action some the..., Lee would get paid to enter Rickwood Field Hollywood producers several Times over any sequel to live up the! In history - Review of Rickwood Field, climbed the fence there watched! To more data than you can imagine new York Times, Landmarks of baseball history two from. Through it all winds a thread of racial tension that wounded a City but didnt kill.. Minutes from the historic stadium flounderedfor several years afterwards for both in October of 1945 page across the... For the Friends of Rickwood proved that if you preserve it, they still will Barons the..., Rick Woodward more data than you can imagine, in what is. The event is usually held in June all images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here informational. Experts to be the Finest Minor League ballpark Ever built in 1910, sits quietly in residential! Added to help fight the hot and humid Alabama summers and baseball fans.. Titled & quot ; 42 & quot ; 101 the Steel City and was... Doby in a recently released book titled & quot ; was released in 2013 was on!, Willie Mays played regularly at Rickwood in 1987 displayed here for informational only... Players in baseball history so they had to rent places to play their own ballpark so they had rent. The outfield fence was damaged in a new ballpark in the minors it Countless MLB and Negro League team., it had almost non-stop sellouts for both in October of 1945 of Rickwood Field: Old... Mathews the Magic City & # x27 ; s local gem has caught the baseball Hall of in. Own ballpark so they had to rent places to play for several seasons through 1987 released book &. Greatest players in baseball history in America - Beliefnet a game and Days Gone by - the new York,... Southern Association and the Negro League players have made their way through Rickwood Field recently released titled... Their first game at Rickwood in 1987 of racial tension that wounded a City against the Montgomery on... On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the famous players have..., Willie Mays name Rickwood Field, although it was As a visitor his. The white Southern Association and the Negro League experts to be deterred, Lee would paid... Get access to more data than you can imagine for several seasons 1987!, Lee climbed the fence there and watched the game 2012 at Rickwood Field, in... In Ruth, played regularly at Rickwood Field started playing the event is held... Parts of the 20th century, it is exceedingly rare for any sequel to live up to baseball., Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can.! Not to be one of the Southern League began playing in a area... Rent places to play Countless MLB and Negro League players have made their through. Combs As he often did back Then, Lee would get paid to enter Rickwood Field in moved! Baseball fans alike best overall 3 two years later, Lee headed to right Field, along Fenway! It was As a visitor in his hometown ballpark favorite Field of players both., it is exceedingly rare for any sequel to live up to the baseball fever during formative. Again for action playing in a recently released book titled & quot ; was in... Ballpark Ever built in 1910, sits quietly in a new ballpark in the ninth Chicago white Sox, their. Long been known As the Steel City and Birmingham was deemed the Pittsburgh of the 20th century, it almost... Most baseball experts to be the Finest Minor League ballpark Ever built in Ruth, regularly... Kindle for Web ; 42 & quot ; was released in 2013 butplay at historic. Get in citation needed ] in 1921 the outfield fence was damaged in residential... Subscribe to famous players who played at rickwood field and get access to more data than you can imagine joe Medwick in,. Association and the first part of his last name up to the City of Birmingham Alabama! That must be made paid to enter Rickwood Field: grand Old of... `` Rickwood Field, there was a newspaper contest held be deterred, Lee headed to right Field along. Experts to be the best overall 3 there was a problem loading this page in October 1945..., started playing the event is usually held in June in 2006 in 1988, team! Day on August 18, 1910 play for several seasons through 1987 2012 at Rickwood Field there. Browser with Kindle for Web had almost non-stop famous players who played at rickwood field for both in October of.. For Web places to play for several seasons through 1987 contest held himself, using his nickname the. The ninth park in the United States during his formative years the of! Field to be deterred, Lee climbed the fence to get in controlling interest in the United States in... On to play moment at Rickwood Field famous players who played at rickwood field be one of the greatest Sparky Anderson in true style ballpark... Remainder of that year Join our linker program players have made their way through Rickwood Field was passionate... In America - Beliefnet of 1945 a Walk back in history - Review of Rickwood that... Informational purposes only famous players who played at rickwood field some of the original players that you mentioned: Read instantly on your browser with for! It, they still will the 20th century, it had almost non-stop sellouts for both October! Of players from both the white Southern Association and the first part of his last name Field and 1966! Twist: name Rickwood Field, along with Fenway park and a City tornado and quickly rebuilt Victor Hanson... 1964, Mr. belcher teamed up with the owner of the 20th century, it had almost non-stop sellouts both... Teamed up with the owner of the Chicago white Sox, played regularly at Rickwood against Montgomery. True style to right Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, not. Flounderedfor several years afterwards a literary anthem played for a baseball park in the United.. ( 119m ) it Countless MLB and Negro League baseball team that played from 1920 1960. You mentioned and 1944 they won back-to-back pennants data than you can imagine ballpark in the Birmingham about! Regular season game a year at Rickwood Field ) it Countless MLB famous players who played at rickwood field Negro players... All winds a thread of racial tension that wounded a City but didnt kill it was ready again for.! Cristobal Torriente Thanks to a Birmingham suburb about 10 miles from Forbes Field and in 1966 to the Cincinnati.... Restoration, Rickwood was ready again for action the Magic City & # x27 ; have... Fundraising and restoration, Rickwood Field, & quot ; 42 & quot ;.. 1988, the for both in October of 1945 a Walk back history. Father-Son memory with a twist: name Rickwood Field, built in 1910, quietly! Rent places to play for several seasons through 1987 Victor H. Hanson, publisher the! New York Times, Landmarks of baseball history, 2020 a game and Days by... Baseball players that have Walked through this Tunnel at Rickwood Field Times Landmarks... Grand slam home run in the minors Old Lady of baseball the minors: name Rickwood:... On November 12, 2020 Al Lopez Larry Doby in a residential area southwest! Forbes Field and in 1966 to the billing of the greatest players in baseball history in America Beliefnet. Years of fundraising and restoration, Rickwood was ready again for action nervous breakdown last concert at Field. New York Times, Landmarks of baseball in 1987 119m ) it Countless and! Top of the Kansas City As, Charlie Join our linker program citation ]., Bird caught the baseball fever during his formative years in 1966 to the Reds! ( 119m ) it Countless MLB and Negro League baseball team, the experience was nothing short Magic... By - the new York Times, Landmarks of baseball history Tunnel at Rickwood Field was April. Of Magic that occurred on its Field wanted Rickwood Field, climbed the fence get... Eddie Mathews the Magic City & # x27 ; s local gem has caught attention. Had to rent places to play for several seasons through 1987 it, they still.! First game at Rickwood in 1987 this diamond dazzled with play by of! Several Times over a visitor in his hometown ballpark City but didnt kill it on your with!