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

The Barons defeated the Memphis Chicks 3-2 on June 12, 1996 before 10,334 fans.

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

See main article 2000 Rickwood Classic

Game was played in June 2000, with the Barons losing 5-4 to the Mobile Baybears.

2001

See main article 2001 Rickwood Classic

Game was played in June 2001, with the Barons losing to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx by a final score of 12-3.

2002

See main article 2002 Rickwood Classic

Game was played on April 25, with the Barons defeating the Chattanooga Lookouts 14-4. The Barons honored the Southern Association championship teams of 1928 & 1929. Former Birmingham A Vida Blue threw the opening pitch before 5,000 fans. [1]

2003

See main article 2003 Rickwood Classic

Game was played June 11, 2003, against the Huntsville Stars. The Barons would win by a final score of 5-1 in a rain shortened game.

2004

See main article 2004 Rickwood Classic

Game was played June 17, 2004, against the Huntsville Stars. The Barons would lose in a slugfest by a score of 8-6. The Barons honored the old Industrial League, teams of the 1930s with Birmingham wearing the uniforms of Sloss Industries and Huntsville representing U. S. Steel.

2005

See main article 2005 Rickwood Classic

The 10th Rickwood Classic was postponed due to rain and was attended by 4,663. The Barons would lose to Montgomery by a score of 6-5. 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.

2007

See main article 2007 Rickwood Classic

The Barons won the 12th Rickwood Classic 3-2 against the Jacksonville Suns. The Barons honored their 1960s association with the Kansas City/Oakland A's, wearing yellow uniforms with green sleeves and socks, in front of a crowd of 5,802.

References

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

External links

• Birmingham Barons website
• Rickwood Field website