Rickwood Classic

The Rickwood Classic is an annual "throwback game" played every year since 1996 by the Birmingham Barons against a Southern League opponent at Rickwood Field, the oldest standing professional ballpark in the United States.

Each Rickwood Classic has honored a different era of Barons history, with players and umpires wearing uniforms patterned after those worn at the time. Unlike the Vintage Base Ball game staged by ESPN Classic in February 2006, the Rickwood Classic is a played by the regular roster as a regular season game with contemporary rules; and the result counts toward the league standings.

1996

10,334 fans showed up to see the Barons

1997

Game was played June 12, 1997, against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

1999

Game was played in June 1999, against the Huntsville Stars. For this game the Barons honored the old Negro leagues.

2000

Game was played in June 2000, against the Mobile Baybears.

2001

Game was played in June 2001, against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

2002

Game was played in June 2002, against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The Barons honored the Birmingham A's teams of the 1960s-1970s. Former Birmingham A Vida Blue threw the opening pitch befoe 5,000 fans.[1]

2003

Game was played June 11, 2003, against the Huntsville Stars. The Barons honored the 1980s with the Barons donning the uniforms of their 1983 Championship team, and the Stars wearing replicas of their uniforms from their inaugural year in 1985. [2]

2004

Game was played June 17, 2004, against the Huntsville Stars. The Barons honored the old industrial, company teams of the 1930s with Birmingham wearing the uniforms of Sloss Industries and Huntsville representing U.S. Steel.

The first 1,500 fans received a mini Rickwood Field replica stadium. The game was presented by State Farm Insurance.[3]

2005

The 10th Rickwood Classic was postponed due to rain and was attended by 4,663. The inaugural Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame inductees, announced at the game, included Piper Davis, Willie Mays, Carlton Molesworth and Rick Woodward.

2006

See main article 2006 Rickwood Classic

The Barons won the 11th Rickwood Classic 3-2 against the Tennessee Smokies. The Barons honored their brief (1953-56) association with the New York Yankees, wearing white uniforms with navy blue pinstripes. The crowd of 4,704 was the second smallest in Classic history. Art Clarkson, Terry Francona, Wayne Martin and Randal Rollin were inducted into the Barons Hall of Fame.

References

• Segrest, Doug (June 23, 2006) "'Blast' from the past". Birmingham News.

External links

• Birmingham Barons website
• Rickwood Field website