MLB announced that Rickwood Field will host a special regular-season matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on June 20, 2024 at 6pm Central on FOX.
Rickwood Field is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and the former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.
There will be a tribute to Hall of Famer and Birmingham native and former Black Barons player, Willie Mays.
MLB will collaborate with the Friends of Rickwood and City of Birmingham to renovate Rickwood Field for 2024, transforming the National Historic Site in order to host a Major League game. Additionally, Rickwood Field will host a Minor League contest between the Birmingham Barons and the Montgomery Biscuits on June 18, 2024. The Barons called Rickwood Field home during three different time periods (1910-1961, 1964-1965, 1981-1987). Each year, the Barons play one game at Rickwood Field in tribute to the organization’s history there. Additional activities surrounding the games at Rickwood Field will be announced at a later date.
The Major League contest will be a home game for the Cardinals. On-field personnel for both teams will wear period uniforms highlighting the Negro Leagues histories of both St. Louis and San Francisco.
“I am so excited that Birmingham will be able to share the magic and legacy of Rickwood Field with Major League Baseball’s millions of fans. America’s oldest professional ballpark still echoes with the sounds of the legends who graced this field. I want to thank Major League Baseball for sharing this vision to commemorate Juneteenth and celebrate the Negro Leagues in the Magic City.”
-Randall L. Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham
“We are honored to host such a historic event at Rickwood Field. The players and fans will truly step back in time when they arrive at America’s Oldest Baseball Park. The Friends of Rickwood look forward to next summer’s celebration as we join MLB in paying tribute to the great Willie Mays and the legends of the Negro Leagues.”
-Gerald Watkins, Friends of Rickwood
“The Cardinals are excited to join with the Giants in playing at historic Rickwood Field next season,” said Cardinals’ Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr. “Birmingham, Alabama has a rich history of baseball, and has hosted Cardinals legends such as Stan Musial, Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick and Rogers Hornsby over the years. We are looking forward to this historic showcase of baseball in the South that celebrates the great heritage of the Negro Leagues, minor league baseball, and of course the iconic Willie Mays.”
“The Giants are honored to have the opportunity to go to Birmingham, Alabama, and play in the very place that Willie Mays and so many legends of the Negro Leagues began their baseball careers. To connect our past with the present is so important to our organization and going to such a historic and iconic place as Rickwood Field will allow us to do just that while also connecting with fans and communities outside of our regular Major League cities,” said Larry Baer, Giants President and CEO.
“Rickwood Field has played a significant role in the Birmingham community for over a hundred years and we’re thrilled to be a special part of this event in 2024. Since 1996, we’ve participated in the Rickwood Classic, a special MiLB event honoring legendary players and teams along with connecting generations of baseball fans and providing a wonderful, vintage baseball game at America’s Oldest Ballpark. We thank Major League Baseball and the City of Birmingham for their work in continuing this tradition in such a meaningful way.”
–Jonathan Nelson, President & General Manager, Birmingham Barons
“We are excited to have the Biscuits return to Rickwood Field in 2024. This is an amazing opportunity for our fans, players, and staff to experience this unique venue and piece of baseball history.”
-Michael Murphy, General Manager, Montgomery Biscuits
