Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, was the site of a special regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on June 20.
The most famous former Black Baron and a legend of the game, Willie Mays, died two days prior to the game, adding a special resonance to the evening’s tribute to the Negro Leagues.
The national exposure Rickwood and Birmingham received was extraordinary, a tribute to a city, a sport, and history.
(Photos courtesy Tom Cosby)
