A.H. “Rick” Woodward, Sr. Named Distinguished American Sportsman

The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame announced Wednesday, December 16, that A.H. “Rick” Woodward, Sr. has been named the 2010 Distinguished American Sportsman.

Builder of Rickwood Field, and Baron team owner 1909- 1937, Woodward is among a very select group of recepients of this prestegious award.

To view the list of previous honorees, please vist the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame link below:

http://www.ashof.org/index.php?src=directory&view=sportsman_lister&pos=0,15,24

To veiw 2010 ASHOF Press Release and Press Conference, please visit link below:

http://www.ashof.org/

Rickwood Field Featured in Sports Events Magazine

The Friends of Rickwood are pleased to report that the ballpark has received more great media exposure, this time from Sports Events Magazine, an industry publication.  Their current edition includes a “special section” titled “America’s Greatest New and Renovated Sports Facilities, with Rickwood receiving a “Top Pick” designation. 

To view the November edition of Sports Events magazine, please visit link below:

http://sportseventsmagazine.epubxpress.com/sem1

After the November edition cover page opens, click on contents, and then after the content page opens, click on the article (located in the lower left column)and it will open.   You will have to click on the text to zoom in, and then go on to the next page, where Rickwood is featured, including a photo.

 

Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association Hosts Annual Event

The Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association will hold its annual banquet on Friday, January 22, 2010, and will feature guest speaker Rick Dempsey, 1983 World Series MVP.

For more information, visit their website at http://otbaseball.com/

or view the press release at the link below:

Rick Dempsey Press Release 12-08-09

Skip Nipper, a true friend of Rickwood Field shares this information.

Friends of Rickwood and Birmingham Barons Announce 2010 Rickwood Classic

The Friends of Rickwood and the Birmingham Barons are very pleased to announce the 15th annual Rickwood Classic will be held on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, and will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the park’s 1910 opening. 

Tickets are now available for the Barons versus Tennessee Smokies match-up, through the Barons’ ticket office, 205.988.3200 or barons.com.

Please use link below to veiw the 2010 Classic press release:

Barons Announce 2010 Rickwood Classic Details – 2009

Please use link below to view Rickwood Centennial reminder:

rkwood_100

Washington Times Article Cites Rickwood as Model

In a Sunday, November 29 piece, Dick Heller of the Washinton Times cites Rickwood Feild as a “role model” for ballpark revitalization.  Mr Heller’s article includes a nice image gallery, with two 2008 Rickwood Classic photos.

To view the on-line version of the article, please click link below:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/29/new-jersey-city-to-renovate-negro-league-ballpark/
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American Baseball Foundation Announces Its 2010 Banquet

Birmingham-based American Baseball Foundation will hold its 9th annual Lead Off Dinner on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 6:30 p.m, with Tim Hudson, of the Atlanta Braves, as key-note speaker.

The Friends of Rickwood are pleased to support the ABF in its mission, including hosting ABF’s BASIC program at Rickwood each Summer.

For more information on the January 14 banquet, please contact the ABF, at 205.558.4235, or abf@asmi.org.

Click on link below to view the Lead Off Dinner announcement.

american baseball invite brochureend

“Famed Rickwood Field” Cited in November 2 Sports Illustrated

Rickwood Field receives a fantastic plug in the November 2 edition of Sports Illustrated magazine.   In an article about the Phillies’ Ryan Howard, the opening paragraph of page 38 sets-up his family baseball history by referring to his grandfather, James Black,  having “starred in a sandlot league at Birmingham’s famed Rickwood Field, where he faced Willie Mays and Willie Mays, Sr.”  Lee Jenkins, the author of the piece, is presumably referring to Birmingham’s rich industrial and amateur ball past.

The Friends of Rickwood are grateful for this reference, and offer our thanks to both Mr. Jenkins and Sports Illustrated.

To view the on-line version of the article, please use the link below:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1161854/index.htm

 

Rickwood Field in Preservation Magazine

Preservation Magazine, the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, cites Rickwood Field as a model for park revitalization (a case we have been making for some years now) in a piece concerning Hinchliffe Stadium (Paterson, NJ).   The on-line version of the current edition is now available at the link below, with hardcopy available  soon.  The Friends of Rickwood appreciate greatly the support of the National Trust, and this invaluable exposure.

http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/november-december/field-forgotten-dreams.html

Barons’ G.M., Jonathan Nelson, Named Southern League Executive of the YEar

Jonathan Nelson, Birmingham Barons’ General Manager, has been named Southern League Executive of the Year.

The Friends of Rickwood congratulate Jonathan on this exciting honor, and place great value upon our relationship with he and the Birmingham Barons organization.  Jonathan is a true friend of Rickwood, and it is a distinct pleasure to call him a colleague.

On behalf of the Friends of Rickwood, congratulations Jonathan.

To view the Southern League press release click link below:

http://birmingham.barons.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090914&content_id=6967244&vkey=pr_t247&fext=.jsp&sid=t247

“30 Ballparks in 30 Days” Visits Rickwood

On Saturday, September 5, I had the pleasure of meeting Travis Greene and his colleagues at the ballpark.  They are working on a documentary project, titled “30 Ballparks in 30 Days.”

From their website:

“We are four filmmakers out of Philadelphia and on April 18, 2009, we will embark on a thirty-day road trip to see a game in all thirty major league ballparks across the country. No planes, no trains – just a car. Driving only. Whatever it takes. Every moment of the trip will be documented and the finished film will portray the troubles and the triumphs that were faced along the way.

The purpose of this project is to raise money and promote the Girls and Boys Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball. Proceeds from all DVD sales of the finished film will be shared with the Girls and Boys Clubs of America.”

Read their Rickwood blog post and visit their site:

 30ballparks30days.com