Rickwood Field will host an MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gerald Watkins watched Aaron Judge , Giancarlo Stanton and other New York Yankees wade through stalks of corn onto an Iowa field in 2021, near the filming site for the 1989 baseball movie “Field of Dreams.”
The game meant to honor Mays and many other Negro Leaguers will be both somber and reminiscent. Mays, the electrifying center fielder who left an enduring mark on baseball, died Tuesday afternoon, a day after announcing that he wouldn't attend the game in person. Rickwood Field hosted Alabama's first integrated sports team, the minor league Birmingham Barons, in 1964 — 17 years after Robinson integrated the majors. And it has seen more than 50% of baseball Hall of Famers walk its grounds, from legendary Negro Leaguers like Mays, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige to MLB greats Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle.
Wood played high school baseball at Rickwood Field in the 1990s. At the time, he said Rickwood was just another place for him to play the sport he loved. That changed when he learned the history. Maintaining history The ballpark is still standing against many odds. Built around the same time as Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, Philadelphia's Shibe Park, Chicago's Comiskey Park and Detroit's Tiger Stadium, Rickwood has outlasted them all, with high school and college games still being played there.
Aaron Judge Birmingham Black Barons Black Barons Gerald Watkins MLB Major League Baseball Montgomery Biscuits Negro Leagues Tribute Rickwood Field
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Will Willie Mays return home for MLB’s tribute to Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field?The 93-year-old baseball icon was born near baseball's oldest ballpark and played there one season for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.
Read more »
Giants, Cardinals to wear Negro Leagues throwbacks for MLB at Rickwood Field gameMLB released a first look at the throwback jerseys the Giants and Cardinals will wear at the MLB at Rickwood Field game (June 20 on FOX).
Read more »
How MLB at Rickwood Field will 'give the Negro Leagues their flowers'While Alabama's Rickwood Field will host its first MLB game this week, Dontrelle Willis explains how America's oldest professional ballpark has inspired countless major-leaguers.
Read more »
Rickwood Field, a time capsule of opportunity and oppression, welcomes MLB for Negro Leagues tributeRickwood Field will host an MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on Thursday. It's the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and former home to baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.
Read more »
Giants set to play at historic Rickwood Field, honor Negro LeaguesThe San Francisco Giants will make history on June 20, when they take a road trip to Birmingham, Alabama to play the St. Louis Cardinals at historic Rickwood Field.
Read more »
Willie Mays won't attend Negro League tribute game at Rickwood FieldWillie Mays will not be in attendance when the San Francisco Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday in a game honoring him and the Negro Leagues.
Read more »