Earlier this week, the Birmingham City Council approved $553,477 in funding for renovations to Rickwood Field, the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States. Keep reading to learn more.

America’s Oldest Professional Baseball Park

Opened in 1910, Rickwood Field has been home to the Birmingham Barons and Birmingham Black Barons. The field has hosted baseball legends such as Rogers Hornsby, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Dizzy Dean, and even been visited by Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees.

Although the Birmingham Barons moved to a new facility in 1987, the ballpark is still used to host baseball games. One such game is the annual Rickwood Classic, a Birmingham Barons match that celebrates the legacy of the field. In addition, the world-famous Savannah Bananas will bring their signature Banana Ball antics to the field this month.

$553,477 in funding for renovations

According to the Birmingham City Council, Rickwood Field fell into disrepair in the latter half of the 20th century. However, organizations like Friends of Rickwood were formed with the goal of restoring the field to its former glory. Friends of Rickwood maintain the campus while promoting Rickwood Field as a living museum of baseball history.

To help support the long-term survivial of the ballpark, the Birmingham City Council approved a bid of $553,477 by Trawick Contractors Inc. for renovations at Rickwood Field.

“Obviously when you have a piece of history like Rickwood that is exposed to the elements, there are going to be repairs that need to be made. This ballpark is such an important piece of the culture here in Birmingham and continues to bring so many people to our city. We’re happy to support the efforts to keep this field viable and successful for years to come.”
Hunter Williams, City Councilor for District 2, Birmingham City Council

The news comes shortly after the announcement that Rickwood Field has been selected to host the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2024 Field of Dreams game.

Excited to see renovations being made to Rickwood Field? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know your thoughts!