1964 Birmingham Barons: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:1964 Barons scorecard.jpg|right| | [[Image:1964 Barons scorecard.jpg|right|210px]] | ||
The '''1964 Birmingham Barons''' were the first racially-integrated [[Birmingham Barons|Barons]] club, and the first professional team to play at [[Rickwood Field]] without segregated seating. The team was owned by [[Albert Belcher]], who had also owned the [[1961 Birmingham Barons]] team that dissolved, along with the [[Southern Association]], in the face of [[segregation ordinances]] in Birmingham and New Orleans. Once those ordinances were lifted, a victory of the [[Civil Rights movement]], a new [[Southern League]] was formed with Birmingham, again, a charter member. | The '''1964 Birmingham Barons''' were the first racially-integrated [[Birmingham Barons|Barons]] club, and the first professional team to play at [[Rickwood Field]] without segregated seating. The team was owned by [[Albert Belcher]], who had also owned the [[1961 Birmingham Barons]] team that dissolved, along with the [[Southern Association]], in the face of [[segregation ordinances]] in Birmingham and New Orleans. Once those ordinances were lifted, a victory of the [[Civil Rights movement]], a new [[Southern League]] was formed with Birmingham, again, a charter member. | ||
The team was affiliated with the Kansas City Athletics, then owned by [[Ensley]] native [[Charlie Finley]], who often visited during Birmingham A's home stands. The team's name was changed to the [[Birmingham Athletics]] following the [[1965 Birmingham Barons|1965 season]]. | The team was affiliated with the Kansas City Athletics, then owned by [[Ensley]] native [[Charlie Finley]], who often visited during Birmingham A's home stands. He outfitted the team in green and gold uniforms and Belcher had Rickwood Field painted to match. The team's name was changed to the [[Birmingham Athletics]] following the [[1965 Birmingham Barons|1965 season]]. | ||
Scheduled for just months after the [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] of [[16th Street Baptist Church]], the threat of racially-motivated violence loomed over the opener against the Asheville Tourists. Extra police were stationed all around the ballpark. Despite the fact that the team gave away razors and blades at the turnstiles <sup>1.</sup>, there were no incidents to mar the event, which attracted 6,564 fans. | Scheduled for just months after the [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] of [[16th Street Baptist Church]], the threat of racially-motivated violence loomed over the opener against the Asheville Tourists. Extra police were stationed all around the ballpark. Despite the fact that the team gave away razors and blades at the turnstiles <sup>1.</sup>, there were no incidents to mar the event, which attracted 6,564 fans. [[Miss Alabama]] [[Judy Short]] kicked off her heels to throw the first pitch. Finley served as an honorary bat boy for the first few innings, but the Barons lost the opener 4-2. | ||
As the season progressed, | [[Tommie Reynolds]] tied a [[Birmingham Barons records|team record]] with three home runs against Asheville on [[August 24]]. He hit three more on [[September 5]] against Charlotte, matching his own record and setting the team record for runs batted in during a game. | ||
As the season progressed, the Barons remained in the hunt for the pennant, falling a game behind the Lynchburg White Sox in their final game to finish 80-60. The balanced Barons were third in batting, third in pitching, and fourth in fielding in the Southern League. Despite their on-the-field successes, overall attendance at Rickwood was a disappointing 95,703. | |||
Several veterans of the 1964 Barons came back to Birmingham for a reunion on [[May 14]], [[2013]]. They toured Rickwood Field, played a round at the [[Highland Park Golf Course]], ate at [[Crape Myrtle's Cafe]] inside [[Paul Seitz]]' [[Little Professor Book Center|bookstore]]. That night they were introduced at [[Regions Field]] before the [[2013 Birmingham Barons]] home gave versus the Montgomery Biscuits. | |||
==Roster== | ==Roster== | ||
* Infielders: [[Bert Campaneris]], [[Tony LaRussa]] | [[Image:1964 Birmingham Barons.png|center|thumb|575px|The 1964 Birmingham Barons team photo]] | ||
* Outfielders: [[ | * Infielders: [[Weldon Bowlin|Weldon "Hoss" Bowlin]], [[Bert Campaneris]], [[Ossie Chavarria]], [[Tony Frulio]], [[Tony LaRussa]], [[Bill Meyer]], [[Santiago Rosario]], [[Rolland Petranovich]] | ||
* Catchers: [[Rene Lachemann]] | * Outfielders: [[Mike Maloney]], [[Bill Meyer]], [[Wayne Norton]], [[Tommie Reynolds]], [[Luis Rodriguez]], [[Larry Stahl]], [[Stan Wojcik]] | ||
* Pitchers: [[ | * Catchers: [[Woody Huyke]], [[Rene Lachemann]], [[John Stutz]] | ||
* Pitchers: [[Rich Allen]], [[Nicky Curtis]], [[Joe Grzenda]], [[Lou Hemauer]], [[Stan Jones]], [[Ken Knight]], [[Marcel Lachemann]], [[Paul Lindblad]], [[Jim Nash]], [[Johnny Odom|Johnny "Blue Moon" Odom]], [[Ken Sanders]], [[Gary Sanossian]], [[Paul Seitz]], [[Ron Tompkins]] | |||
===Staff=== | |||
* President: [[W. A. Belcher]] | |||
* Manager: [[Haywood Sullivan]] | * Manager: [[Haywood Sullivan]] | ||
* General manager: [[Glynn West]] | * General manager: [[Glynn West]] | ||
* Trainer: [[Fred Posey]] | * Trainer: [[Fred Posey]] | ||
==Schedule== | ==Schedule== | ||
| Line 72: | Line 79: | ||
:3-6: 4 games at Charlotte Hornets | :3-6: 4 games at Charlotte Hornets | ||
:7-9: 3 games at Lynchburg White Sox | :7-9: 3 games at Lynchburg White Sox | ||
==Notes== | |||
<i><small> | |||
# Segrest-2007</small></i> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Holmes, Ralph (April 18, 1964) "Like Old Times-Baseball at 'Wood." {{BN}} | |||
* Cook, Ben (2005) ''Good Wood: A Fan's history of Rickwood Field.'' Birmingham: R. Boozer Press. ISBN 0963612832 | * Cook, Ben (2005) ''Good Wood: A Fan's history of Rickwood Field.'' Birmingham: R. Boozer Press. ISBN 0963612832 | ||
* Segrest, Doug (May 30, 2007) "A better view of the game." {{BN}} | |||
* 1964 Birmingham Barons information at [http://www.birminghamprosports.com/ Birmingham Pro Sports] | * 1964 Birmingham Barons information at [http://www.birminghamprosports.com/ Birmingham Pro Sports] | ||
* Colton, Larry (2013) ''Southern League: A True Story of Baseball, Civil Rights, and The Deep South's Most Compelling Pennant Race''. New York: Grand Central Publishing ISBN 1455511889 | |||
* Wilson, Glynn (May 14, 2013) "[http://blog.locustfork.net/2013/05/birmingham-barons-welcome-64-barons-to-regions-field-2/ Birmingham Barons Welcome ’64 Barons To Regions Field]" ''Locust Fork News-Journal'' | |||
* Carlton, Bob (May 15, 2013) "The boys of summer: 1964 Birmingham Barons relive their glory days at Rickwood Field." {{BN}} | |||
[[Category:1964|Barons]] | [[Category:1964|Barons]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham Barons teams]] | [[Category:Birmingham Barons teams]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:24, 26 February 2018
The 1964 Birmingham Barons were the first racially-integrated Barons club, and the first professional team to play at Rickwood Field without segregated seating. The team was owned by Albert Belcher, who had also owned the 1961 Birmingham Barons team that dissolved, along with the Southern Association, in the face of segregation ordinances in Birmingham and New Orleans. Once those ordinances were lifted, a victory of the Civil Rights movement, a new Southern League was formed with Birmingham, again, a charter member.
The team was affiliated with the Kansas City Athletics, then owned by Ensley native Charlie Finley, who often visited during Birmingham A's home stands. He outfitted the team in green and gold uniforms and Belcher had Rickwood Field painted to match. The team's name was changed to the Birmingham Athletics following the 1965 season.
Scheduled for just months after the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, the threat of racially-motivated violence loomed over the opener against the Asheville Tourists. Extra police were stationed all around the ballpark. Despite the fact that the team gave away razors and blades at the turnstiles 1., there were no incidents to mar the event, which attracted 6,564 fans. Miss Alabama Judy Short kicked off her heels to throw the first pitch. Finley served as an honorary bat boy for the first few innings, but the Barons lost the opener 4-2.
Tommie Reynolds tied a team record with three home runs against Asheville on August 24. He hit three more on September 5 against Charlotte, matching his own record and setting the team record for runs batted in during a game.
As the season progressed, the Barons remained in the hunt for the pennant, falling a game behind the Lynchburg White Sox in their final game to finish 80-60. The balanced Barons were third in batting, third in pitching, and fourth in fielding in the Southern League. Despite their on-the-field successes, overall attendance at Rickwood was a disappointing 95,703.
Several veterans of the 1964 Barons came back to Birmingham for a reunion on May 14, 2013. They toured Rickwood Field, played a round at the Highland Park Golf Course, ate at Crape Myrtle's Cafe inside Paul Seitz' bookstore. That night they were introduced at Regions Field before the 2013 Birmingham Barons home gave versus the Montgomery Biscuits.
Roster
- Infielders: Weldon "Hoss" Bowlin, Bert Campaneris, Ossie Chavarria, Tony Frulio, Tony LaRussa, Bill Meyer, Santiago Rosario, Rolland Petranovich
- Outfielders: Mike Maloney, Bill Meyer, Wayne Norton, Tommie Reynolds, Luis Rodriguez, Larry Stahl, Stan Wojcik
- Catchers: Woody Huyke, Rene Lachemann, John Stutz
- Pitchers: Rich Allen, Nicky Curtis, Joe Grzenda, Lou Hemauer, Stan Jones, Ken Knight, Marcel Lachemann, Paul Lindblad, Jim Nash, Johnny "Blue Moon" Odom, Ken Sanders, Gary Sanossian, Paul Seitz, Ron Tompkins
Staff
- President: W. A. Belcher
- Manager: Haywood Sullivan
- General manager: Glynn West
- Trainer: Fred Posey
Schedule
The 1964 Barons finished the season 80-60, one game back from the 81-59 Lynchburg White Sox for the league pennant (there was no playoff).
April
- 17-19: 3 games vs. Asheville Tourists
- 21-23: 3 games at Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 24-26: 3 games at Macon Peaches
- 27-29: 3 games vs. Knoxville Smokies
- 30: vs. Chattanooga Looksouts
May
- 1-3: 3 games vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
- 4-5: 2 games at Knoxville Smokies
- 6-8: 3 games at Chattanooga Lookouts
- 9-12: 4 games vs. Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 13-15: 3 games vs. Macon Peaches
- 16-17: 2 games at Asheville Tourists
- 18-20: 3 games vs. Charlotte Hornets
- 22-24: 3 games vs. Lynchburg White Sox
- 25-27: 3 games at Chattanooga Lookouts
- 28-31: 4 games at Lynchburg White Sox
June
- 1-4: 4 games vs. Asheville Tourists
- 5-7: 3 games at Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 8-11: 4 games at Macon Peaches
- 12-14: 3 games vs. Knoxville Smokies
- 15-17: 3 games vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
- 18-21: 4 games at Knoxville Smokies
- 22-25: 4 games at Chattanooga Lookouts
- 26-28: 3 games vs. Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 29-30: 2 games vs. Macon Peaches
July
- 1: vs. Macon Peaches
- 2-5: 4 games at Asheville Tourists
- 6-8: 3 games at Charlotte Hornets
- 10-12: 4 games vs. Lynchburg White Sox
- 15-17: 3 games at Charlotte Hornets
- 18-20: 3 games at Lynchburg White Sox
- 22-24: 3 games at Asheville Tourists
- 25-28: 4 games at Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 29-31: 3 games at Macon Peaches
August
- 1-4: 4 games vs. Knoxville Smokies
- 5-7: 3 games vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
- 8-11: 4 games at Knoxville Smokies
- 12-14: 3 games at Chattanooga Lookouts
- 15-17: 3 games vs. Columbus Confederate Yankees
- 18-21: 4 games vs. Macon Peaches
- 22-25: 4 games at Asheville Tourists
- 27-30: 4 games vs. Charlotte Hornets
- 31: vs. Lynchburg White Sox
September
- 1-2: 2 games vs. Lynchburg White Sox
- 3-6: 4 games at Charlotte Hornets
- 7-9: 3 games at Lynchburg White Sox
Notes
- Segrest-2007
References
- Holmes, Ralph (April 18, 1964) "Like Old Times-Baseball at 'Wood." The Birmingham News
- Cook, Ben (2005) Good Wood: A Fan's history of Rickwood Field. Birmingham: R. Boozer Press. ISBN 0963612832
- Segrest, Doug (May 30, 2007) "A better view of the game." The Birmingham News
- 1964 Birmingham Barons information at Birmingham Pro Sports
- Colton, Larry (2013) Southern League: A True Story of Baseball, Civil Rights, and The Deep South's Most Compelling Pennant Race. New York: Grand Central Publishing ISBN 1455511889
- Wilson, Glynn (May 14, 2013) "Birmingham Barons Welcome ’64 Barons To Regions Field" Locust Fork News-Journal
- Carlton, Bob (May 15, 2013) "The boys of summer: 1964 Birmingham Barons relive their glory days at Rickwood Field." The Birmingham News