Report: Rickwood Field to host Mays, Negro Leagues tribute game

Historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham may host a major sporting event next year.

According to earlier reports, Rickwood, the oldest professional ballpark in the country, was going to host Major League Baseball’s “Field of Dreams” game next year.

However, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, who broke the original story, MLB is planning for the game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to be a tribute to Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues.

Neither Birmingham city nor Rickwood Field officials have responded to requests for comment or confirmation of the game.

Some clarification from
MLB: the Giants and Cardinals game at Rickwood Field next year won’t be called the Field of Dreams game and hope is that that game *will* return to Iowa ASAP. Giants/Cards game will likely be called something honoring Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) June 14, 2023

Rickwood Field is the oldest ballpark standing where Mays, 93, has played. His first professional team was the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.

Over the last two years, the game has been played in Dyersville, Iowa, at the site of the movie “Field of Dreams.” It will not, however, be taking place this year due to a youth baseball and softball complex being constructed there.

Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Reggie Jackson and Stan Musial are among other baseball legends who played there.

The stadium, built in 1910, was the home of the Black Barons, Birmingham Coal Barons, and the Minor League Birmingham A’s and, later, Birmingham Barons, who moved to the Hoover Met in 1987. Now, the ballpark is the home field for the Miles College baseball team and hosts baseball tournaments throughout the summer.

Rickwood Field has also been a part of films such as “Cobb”, “Soul of the Game”, and “42.”

“It’s going to be historic,” said LaMonte Wade of the Giants. “To be able to share that same field with so many greats who played there before, including Willie for sure, it’s going to be a great moment. It’ll be a special day to know he gets to watch us play on that field.”

“Putting on that jersey will be special,” Wade said. “It’ll be a day to circle on the calendar for sure. It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase the sport today, and I’m sure that during the broadcasts, they’ll talk about the Negro Leagues and the history behind the park. So the fans and everybody can learn as well.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.