America’s oldest ballpark represents Alabama in new MLB feature

America’s oldest ballpark — located right here in Birmingham — is once again getting national attention.

Major League Baseball featured Rickwood Field to represent Alabama in its Baseball in America series, a 50-state feature celebrating the nation’s rich baseball heritage in honor of America’s 250th birthday.

Landmark moments in Rickwood Field history

Built in 1910 by industrialist A.H. “Rick” Woodward as the first concrete-and-steel minor league ballpark in the nation, Rickwood Field was modeled after Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Over its 114+ years, the West End park has welcomed 181 Hall of Famers and served as the epicenter for major chapters in American baseball history.

Some moments in Rickwood Field history featured in the MLB spotlight are:

• 1910: Opening day saw businesses across town close early so an estimated 10,000 fans could watch the Barons defeat the Montgomery Climbers 3-2.
• 1921: The Birmingham Black Barons formed as charter members of the Negro Southern League, sharing Rickwood Field for home games.
• 1936: The inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame class — including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner — featured legends who had all played at Rickwood while traveling through Birmingham’s train hub.
• 1948: A teenage Willie Mays and pitcher Bill Greason led the Black Barons to the Negro American League pennant and the Negro League World Series.
• 1964: Following the removal of public safety commissioner Bull Connor, owner Art Belcher integrated the Barons, forming Alabama’s first integrated professional sports team.
• 1967: Reggie Jackson led the Birmingham A’s to a Southern League championship before the core of the roster moved up to win three consecutive World Series titles in the 1970s.
• 1994: The Friends of Rickwood formed to preserve the stadium, leading to its featured role as a filming site for Hollywood movies like “Cobb” and “Soul of the Game.”
• 2024: MLB hosted its first regular-season game in Alabama at Rickwood between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, complete with a $5 million facility makeover.

How Bham Now has covered Rickwood’s ongoing renaissance

The Magic City venue continues to make headlines both on and off the field. Here is a look back at how the historic ballpark has evolved in the last few years:

• June 2024: Renovations were completed ahead of MLB’s tribute game, adding padded outfield walls, new dugouts and updated surfaces.
• November 2024: The Birmingham Barons announced plans to return to Rickwood Field for annual game play.
• January 2025: Major League Baseball presented a commemorative plaque to city officials and the Friends of Rickwood.
• May 2025: Park management introduced new accessibility features across the stadium facilities.
• October 2025: Banana Ball confirmed its return to Birmingham for 2026.
• April 2026: MLB announced the return of exhibition play with the Juneteenth East-West Classic.
• July 2026: The Smithsonian Institution recognized Rickwood Field alongside key local civil rights sites.

To read the full 50-state story and watch the video coverage on Alabama’s baseball history, visit MLB.com.