Rickwood Field, the oldest stadium in the United States to have hosted professional baseball, the defunct Black League stadium will be reused for a special game in June 2024.
The ground in Birmingham, Alabama was the home of the Black Barons from 1924 to 1960. At that time, the all-black team shared the field with the white Barons.
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On June 20, 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants will meet at this legendary venue. Major League Baseball will take the opportunity to pay tribute to black leagues and legendary Willie Mays.
“We are proud to bring Major League Baseball to historic Rickwood Field in 2024,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. This opportunity to honor the Negro Leagues, when the Giants and Cardinals play a regular season game at this famous site, is a great honor.”
“The legacy of the Negro Leagues and its best surviving player, Willie Mays, is one of excellence and perseverance. We look forward to sharing the stories of the Negro leagues during this event next year.”
Mays played for the Black Barons in 1948. He subsequently moved on to the New York Giants, then the San Francisco Giants, in the major leagues.
“I can’t believe it,” said the 92-year-old. I never in my life expected to see major league baseball played on the floor where I played during my teens. It has been 75 years since Birmingham’s Black Barons played at Rekwood Stadium […]. “
The Cardinals and Giants will wear special uniforms for the occasion and highlight the history of the black leagues in their city. In the meantime, the stadium will be partially renovated by 2024.
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