22nd Annual Rickwood Classic

*** Historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham,  the country’s oldest ballpark, has been closed for repairs. As the nation’s oldest ballpark and one of only two original Negro League home fields left standing, Rickwood Field is considered one of the city’s most precious historical artifacts. HAER, the Historic American Engineering Record (a division of the National Parks Service) has authenticated Rickwood’s historical eminence. The 22nd annual Rickwood Classic, scheduled for Wed., May 31 between the Barons and the Chattanooga Lookouts, will be held at Regions Field.

The Birmingham Barons and The Friends of Rickwood will welcome baseball fans back to historic Rickwood Field for the 22nd Annual Rickwood Classic presented by Levy’s Fine Jewelry. The annual game is set for Wednesday, May 31st at 12:30 p.m. and will celebrate “The Fabulous Fifties.” The game will feature the Birmingham Barons against the Chattanooga Lookouts, Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Former MLB All-Star and Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal will be the special guest of honor and will be available for autographs during the game.

In celebrating “The Fabulous Fifties” the Barons will honor the four-year affiliation with the New York Yankees from 1953-56. The Barons were a combined 328-285 over that span led by skippers Mayo Smith and Phil Page for two-seasons each. While they did not qualify for the playoffs, they did finish with a record above .500 in all four seasons. During the 1956 campaign Barons records were set by pitcher Wilson Parsons with 33 starts and infielder Milton Graff with 653 at-bats in one season. Over the years Yankee legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra appeared at Rickwood Field as part of exhibition games held at the ballpark.

The Barons will wear throwback uniforms from the 1953-56 seasons featuring a gray jersey with Birmingham across the chest in Yankee blue, the iconic Yankee logo on the right sleeve, and Yankee blue numbers on the back. The team will also wear special gray caps with blue bills and a blue B on it.