Rickwood Field

rickwoodclassic.com Goes Live

rickwood — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:18:20 +0000

Visit the new Rickwood Classic website, rickwoodclassic.com, to learn all about the Wednesday, May 29th Rickwood Classic, a tribute to the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons.

View photographs of the 1948 Black Barons. Find information concerning tickets, parking, and concessions, as well as data from past Classics. Learn who our sponsors are, and share your photographs.

Visit:

www.rickwoodclassic.com

1964 Barons Team Members Return to Rickwood

rickwood — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:14:21 +0000

The Friends of Rickwoood enjoyed thoroughly this week’s visit from members of the 1964 Barons team, Birmingham’s first integrated baseball squad. It was both an honor and a pleasure to meet these gentlemen.

Please see links below to press coverage of the visit:

http://photos.al.com/birmingham-news/2013/05/1964_barons_at_rickwood_field.html

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/05/post_925.html

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/members_of_the_1964_birmingham.html

Lenny Yochim, Former New Orleans Pelican, Passes Away

rickwood — Tue, 14 May 2013 03:23:56 +0000

The Friends of Rickwood are saddened deeply to have learned of the May 11th death of Lenny Yochim, former New Orleans Pelican and Pittsburgh Pirate. Mr. Yochim was 84.

Mr. Yochim, and former Pelican teammate, Mel Brookey, participated in the first annual Southern Association Conference, in 2006, and stole-the-show. It was both a pleasure and an honor to have met these gentlemen.

Please see link below to the New Orleans Times-Picayune article concerning Mr. Yochim’s passing, as well as the obituary below:

http://www.nola.com/zephyrs/index.ssf/2013/05/lenny_yochim_former_new_orlean.html

Rickwood Field Featured in Sports Collectors Digest

rickwood — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:53:03 +0000

Rickwood receives more terrific media exposure in the May 17 edition of Sports Collectors Digest, including the cover photo.

Please see link beow to the on-line article:

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/features/visiting-places-of-baseball-history-related-to-jackie-robinson

International Exposure for Rickwood

rickwood — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:22:30 +0000

Rickwood Field gets some great exposure in the attached page from Sankei Sports, Tokyo. Or at least I think its great. It’s not easy to read, but the photos of the ballpark look terrific.

The Friends organization would like to thank Sankei journalist, Gaku Tashiro, for his interest in the ballpark.

sankei sports rickwood article 2013

“42″ Movie Premier to be Held in Birmingham

rickwood — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:55:31 +0000

The City of Birmingham has arranged a screening of the new Jackie Robinson film, shot in-part at Rickwood Field, to be held on Thursday, April 11, 7:00 pm, at the Carmike Summit Theater, the night before the April 12 national release.

Please see link below to Bob Carlton’s al.com article concerning the Birmingham premier.

Birmingham screening set for Jackie Robinson movie ’42,’ some of which was filmed here (video)

Another Successful Southern Association Conference

rickwood — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:58:16 +0000

Authors, collectors, historians, and fans of the old league gathered at Rickwood Field on Saturday, March 2, for the 10th annual Southern Association Conference. Despite it being a cold and windy day at the park, the group enjoyed being among colleagues and friends who share a passion for the history of the league. This year’s program included collector exhibits and research presentations concerning the role of Southern Association ballparks in the film, television, and advertising industries, as well as the “stories behind the stories” presented in the film projects.

Please see image files below, all courtesy of Jeb Stewart.

2013 Southern Association Conference: “Hollywood and the Ballparks of the Southern Association”

rickwood — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:51:36 +0000

The Friends of Rickwood are pleased to announce the 2013 Southern Association Conference, to be held on Saturday, March 2, from 9:00 – 3:30, at historic Rickwood Field. This year’s event, the tenth annual, will have as its theme, “Hollywood and the Ballparks of the Southern Association,” and will take a look at films and related projects involving Southern Association ballparks, including the impact of these film projects on the parks themselves.

Please see files below for additional information and registration.

2013 southern assoc conf letter

2013 southern assoc conf registration form

F.O.R. and Birmingham Barons Announce 2013 Rickwood Classic

rickwood — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:00:02 +0000

The Friends of Rickwood and the Birmingham Barons are pleased to announce the 2013 Rickwood Classic, to be held on Wednesday, May 29. This year’s Classic will feature the Barons versus the Tennessee Smokies, and will pay tribute to the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, one of Negro League baseball’s most iconic teams. We are also quite pleased to have Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins attending as this year’s VIP guest. Tickets for the May 29, 12:30 event are available through the Barons’ ticket office, at 205.988.3200, or on-line at barons.com.

Please see Press Release file below.

02-07-13 Rickwood Classic Release

Rich Allen, 1964 Barons, Visits the Park

rickwood — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:21:39 +0000

Rickwood Board member Clarence Watkins and I enjoyed a visit this week with Rich Allen, a member of the 1964 Birmingham Barons, the first integrated Birmingham team. Rich and his friend, Eric Mattson, stopped in Birmingham on their trip from Minnesota to South Florida.

Please see files below.

1964 team photo:

Rich’s Birmingham recollections:

Brimingham Barons 1964 from rich allen

1964 Barons newspaper clippings:

Brmingham Barons News

Link to Rich’s career:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=allen-004ric