2010 Rickwood Classic

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2010 Rickwood Classic program.jpg

The 2010 Rickwood Classic was the 15th in the annual series of "throwback" games played by the Birmingham Barons in vintage-style uniforms at Birmingham's historic Rickwood Field. The Barons lost to the Tennessee Smokies 8-7 in 11 innings, playing for a crowd of 9,448 on June 2.

The home team Barons wore throwback home white uniforms and short-billed caps of the 1910 Birmingham Barons. The division-leading Smokies wore gray on gray uniforms of the 1910 Knoxville Appalachians. Honored at the game was Harmon Killebrew, a Hall of Fame home run hitter who played at Rickwood as a member of the 1957 and 1958 Chattanooga Lookouts. Ray Caldwell, Eddie Glennon, Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura were inducted into the Barons Hall of Fame during the game. Robert Moore sang the national anthem and, with the Wildcats, performed from the box seats behind home plate between innings.

Barons' starter Matt Long threw the first strike, using an exaggerated old-style windup, just after 12:30 PM. The Barons went ahead with two runs in the first inning, but Long was overpowered in the top of the third as the Smokies notched five runs to go ahead.

2010 Rickwood Classic

The Barons tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth, hammering Tennessee starter Craig Muschko. Both teams scored twice in the seventh, and the game remained tied at 7-7 after nine innings. With no score in the 10th, Marquez Smith made the difference with a booming line-drive home run over the Coca-Cola sign in left field to go ahead in the 11th. Smokies' closer David Cales sealed the visitors' win with his 11th inning save. Dustin Sasser, set-up man for the Smokies in the 10th, was credited with the win.

The game was presented by State Farm Insurance. The weather was warm and humid with partly cloudy skies and a threat of rain.

References

  • Wild, Danny (May 27, 2009) "Braves rally to win Rickwood Classic." MLB.com

External links