Top Menu

The burden of history: Today’s Rickwood Classic

This year's Rickwood Classic is in the books, as one of the largest crowds ever to see the new Barons in the old ballpark was on hand. Rickwood Field is 100 years old this summer. Carrying the weight of 100 years of baseball history — never mind the 100 years of social and civil-rights history as well — is an awfully heavy load for any ballpark. But Birmingham’s Rickwood Field was equal to the task during the 15th annual Rickwood Classic Wednesday, as fans celebrated the upcoming 100th anniversary of this historic venue. Our thoughts on the event.

This year's Rickwood Classic is in the books, as one of the largest crowds ever to see the new Barons in the old ballpark was on hand. Rickwood Field is 100 years old this summer. Carrying the weight of 100 years of baseball history — never mind the 100 years of social and civil-rights history as well — is an awfully heavy load for any ballpark. But Birmingham’s Rickwood Field was equal to the task during the 15th annual Rickwood Classic Wednesday, as fans celebrated the upcoming 100th anniversary of this historic venue. Our thoughts on the event.

Page 1: Thoughts on the game and the burden of history.

Page 2: Visiting Rickwood Field and attending the Classic.

Page 3: Rickwood Field history, conclusions.

Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.

Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they're posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!