24th Annual Rickwood Classic Slated for June 8th

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons and Friends of Rickwood welcome fans back to legendary Rickwood Field for the 24th Annual Rickwood Classic presented by Levy’s Fine Jewelry, Stewart Lubricants and Service Company, and Drummond Company, Inc.

Barons Show the Love, Launch 7th Inning Wave

Inspired by the Iowa Wave during football games at the University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) have started a similar tradition for their home games. The Children’s of Alabama Hospital overlooks Regions Field, the home stadium for the Barons. So, during the seventh inning stretch, players and fans wave at center field in the direction of the hospital.  Read more here and here.

So cool.

Instead of a 7th inning stretch, the @BhamBarons are doing a "7th inning wave" where fans wave to patients of at the Children's Hospital of Alabama that's located in right field.https://t.co/Yt32txiFFM

(📹: @abc3340) pic.twitter.com/8qHkw6DGs2

— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 12, 2019

Rickwood Classic Returns Today

The Rickwood Classic takes place on Wednesday, May 30, at Rickwood Field — America’s oldest baseball park, as the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) play host to the Chattanooga Lookouts starting at 12:30 p.m.  The Barons will don uniforms from “Fabulous Fifties” when the club was affiliated with the New York Yankees from 1953 – 1956.  The Lookouts will also wear period unis.  View 2018 Rickwood Classic Fan Guide here.

 

Chicken & Waffles, Irish Nachos Highlight Barons New Food Lineup

The Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) and Parkview Catering have introduced new concessions food & beverage items for the 2018 season including Chicken & Waffles and Irish Nachos.  Read more here.  Speaking of food, the Barons have also unveiled a specialty jersey for Aug. 25.

Rickwood Classic Returns

The Rickwood Classic is back at historic Rickwood Field for the 2018 game to be held on Wednesday, May 30.  The Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) and the Friends of Rickwood have announced that the 22nd annual game is back at the venue after being cancelled last year due to structural repair issues to the 108-year old ballpark.  Read more here.

Hoover Met to Host MLB Prospects Scouting Event

Baseball is still alive at the MiLB-departed Hoover Met.  The top 150 Major League Baseball prospects for the East Coast will be coming to Hoover (AL) this summer, as East Coast Pro, a non-profit run by MLB scouts, will stage its annual scouting event at the Hoover Met Complex Aug. 1 through 4, 2018.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe DeLeonard for the heads up.

Repairs Underway for America’s Oldest Ballpark, Fundraising Continues

America’s oldest ballpark is getting some much-needed repairs.  The city of Birmingham (AL), which owns Rickwood Field, was forced to close the ballpark in April for structural repairs to the grandstands.  Construction for restoring the ballpark has already begun with hopes of re-opening in 2018. Read more here.  Read more about the fundraising campaign here.

Barons to Host 2018 Southern League All-Star Game, Unveil Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons are excited to announce that Regions Field will host the 2018 Southern League All-Star Game. The Barons, in partnership with Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, Wetumpka and the Southern League, will put on multiple events to welcome the best and brightest stars of the Southern League to the Magic City.

Rickwood Field Closes for Emergency Repairs, Rickwood Classic Moved

Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in America and one of only two original Negro League baseball stadiums still standing, has been closed for emergency repairs.  According the Rickwood Facebook page:

“Based on preliminary inspections by the City of Birmingham engineers, structural shoring and repair will be necessary before Rickwood will be ready to host another event. The City has declared the need for repairs and emergency situation and work will begin immediately. The City has budgeted $450,000 in phase 2 bond funds to being the work.”).

As a result, the annual Rickwood Classic scheduled for May 31 has been moved to Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League).  Read more here.

Sculpture of Willie Mays to be Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – The Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society is dedicating a sculpture created by local artists Caleb O’ Connor and Craig Wedderspoon as a lasting tribute to former Time Inc. CEO and current Birmingham Barons owner, Don Logan, the Society’s 2015 Legacy of Leadership honoree.

Barons Set Attendance Record

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons once again set a new attendance record at Regions Field, welcoming 8,607 fans for the third record-breaking crowd in the past four home games.

Residential Development Near Barons Home Opens for Business

The Venue at the Ballpark, a residential development near Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) and Railroad Park, is now open and boasts 236 apartment units.  The development abuts the stadium’s outfield wall and offers sweet views of the venue.  Read more here.  View photo gallery here.

White Sox, Barons Extend PDC

Building off the success of three consecutive attendance record setting seasons, the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) and the Chicago White Sox have jointly agreed to terms on a two-year extension of their Player Development Contract through 2020.  Read more here.

Happy Birthday to America’s Oldest Ballpark!

Rickwood Field in Birmingham (AL) turned 105 on Tuesday.  The historic stadium is home of the annual Rickwood Classic, which should be on every baseball fan’s bucket list, and the former home of the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League).  Read more here.  Learn more about the ballpark by going to Rickwood.com.

Funding for Negro League Museum Approved, ‘Venue at the Ballpark’ Breaks Ground

The city of Birmingham (AL) has approved funding for the $5 million Negro League baseball museum that is set to open in April, and on Thursday, Inland American Communities and Corporate Realty made the multifamily development, Venue at the Ballpark, official with a ceremonial groundbreaking.  Read more and view renderings here.

‘Venue at the Ballpark’ Next to Regions Field Under Construction

Venue at the Ballpark, a multimillion dollar Inland American Communities venture located near Regions Field, home of the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League), is under construction.  Read more here.  View rendering gallery here.

Barons Receive ‘Real’ Ballpark Award

It’s no “virtual” award here.  Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com was at Regions Field Saturday to present the 2013 Baseballparks.com Ballpark Of The Year award to the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) and the city of Birmingham (AL) for their impressive one-year-old, 8,500-seat baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Joe Mock presents the 2013 BaseballParks.com Ballpark Of The Year Award to Don Logan, one of the owners of the Barons.

 

Barons Announce Details for 19th Rickwood Classic

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons and Friends of Rickwood will welcome baseball fans back to legendary Rickwood Field for the 19th Annual Rickwood Classic presented by State Farm Insurance® and YP.