The Rickwood Classic

Since 1996 the Birmingham Barons have traveled back to historic Rickwood Field once a year to celebrate Birmingham's rich baseball past.

The 2009 Rickwood Classic took a little page from its All-Star Game counterpart, honoring a1982 season that saw the Atlanta Braves travel to Rickwood Field to take on the Southern League All-Stars.

Wearing their '82 red jerseys with white trim, the Barons took on the Mississippi Braves in front of 7,396 fans. The game was attended by special guest of honor, and longtime Braves broadcaster, Pete Van Wieren. The first 1,000 fans to enter the gates received a replica ticket that was used for the 1982 Southern League All Star Game.

The Barons took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning, but a two-run, ninth inning home run off the bat of Eric Campbell proved to be the difference in the game. The Barons now hold a 7-7 record in the Rickwood Classic.

White Sox infielder, and 2008 first round draft pick, Gordon Beckham played his final Barons game at the Classic. He started at third base and batted in the three hole. He went 0-for-2 but drew two walks and scored a run. He was promoted to Charlotte following the game.

The Rickwood Classic has annually been one of the most popular events for baseball fans both in Alabama and across the country. It was voted as the most anticpated Minor League Baseball Game of 2009 on MiLB.com, was listed fifth on the list of top events in 2008 by the Alabama Tourism Department, and in 2007 was named one of the "101 Things All Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die" in a column written by ESPN.com's Jim Caple.

For more information and the full press release on the 14th Annual Rickwood Classic Presented by State Farm Insurance, click here.

Information about past Rickwood Classic games:

2008 (13th Annual Rickwood Classic)
As in past years, the 2008 Rickwood Classic celebrated a particular era of Birmingham's baseball history. The 13th Annual Rickwood Classic Presented by State Farm Insurance was held May 28 at 12:35 pm when the Barons hosted the Jacksonville Suns.

Former Baron Jimmy Piersall, an outfielder on the 1951-52 teams and 17-year Major Leaguer, was in attendance at the game. The first 1,500 fans through the gate received a vintage portrait of Piersall from the 1952 season, and he was available for autographs during the contest.

This season, the squad honored the 1951-52 teams that were affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The uniforms were gray with "Birmingham" written across the chest in blue script, and the hats featured the red and black Boston Red Sox "B". The Jacksonville Suns wore their uniforms from the 1967 team that featured Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.

2007 (12th Annual Rickwood Classic)
In 2007, the Barons celebrated their affiliation with the Kansas City A's organization in 1964 and 1965, which coincided with the first two years of existence for the Southern League. Barons' players donned the gold road uniforms of the 1964 Birmingham Barons, and the Jacksonville Suns wore their uniforms from the 1967 team that featured Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.

Rickwood Field was vacant for two seasons before the Barons were reborn in 1964 in the newly formed Southern League. Rickwood saw stars such as Bert Campaneris, Tony LaRussa, Dave Duncan, Rene and Marcel Lachemann, and manager John McNamara during this time period.

2006 (11th Annual Rickwood Classic)
In 2006, Birmingham played the Tennessee Smokies with festivities geared around the era of the Birmingham Barons' affiliation with the New York Yankees (1953-56). The Barons wore white uniforms with blue pinstripes, as well as blue caps with a custom-style "B" from the mid-1950's era.

The 2006 season marked the 50th anniversary of Birmingham's final year of affiliation with the Yankees, a season during which the Yankees won the 17th of their now-26 World Championships. In a 1955 exhibition game, the Barons defeated the Yankees by the score of 9-5 at Rickwood Field. Along with manager Casey Stengel, other Yankees who played in the exhibition included Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Mickey Mantle. Notable players from the Barons roster during Birmingham's affiliation with New York are John Blanchard (1956), Al Cicotte (1953, 1955), Jim Coates (1955), Hal Smith (1953), Tom Sturdivant (1953), Sam Suplizio (1956), Ralph Terry (1955) and Gus Triandos (1953). After being traded in 1954, Triandos went on to become an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles.

2005 (10th Annual Rickwood Classic)
In honor of the special 10-year anniversary of the Rickwood Classic, the Barons incorporated numerous aspects of their history into the festivities. The Barons players donned an "All-Star" mix of uniforms from the previous nine Classics that included replica uniforms from each Classic. The Montgomery Biscuits wore the uniforms of the Montgomery Climbers, that city's team from the early 1900's that faced off against the Barons in the inaugural game at Rickwood on August 18, 1910.

2004 (9th Annual Rickwood Classic)
The Barons and Stars put on the uniforms of Industrial League teams that played in the 1930's. Birmingham wore the uniforms of Sloss Industries and Huntsville represented U.S. Steel. This match-up turned back the clock to a classic industrial league battle between two of Birmingham's oldest and most historically-rich companies.

The Industrial Leagues in Birmingham consisted of teams sponsored by local businesses and the rosters were made up of the workers from those companies. Games between industry rivals constituted major social events, with music and food, and helped foster pride and loyalty to the employer. The ballplayers themselves were typically seen as heroes to their co-workers and community and being a baseball player for your company was considered a most prestigious position.

Many players made the transition from the Industrial Leagues to professional baseball. Numerous standouts for the Birmingham Black Barons, like Piper Davis, George "Mule" Suttles, Artie Wilson and others, played industrial ball in Birmingham.

2003 (8th Annual Rickwood Classic)
The Barons and Huntsville Stars took a look back at the 1980's and paid tribute to the people and events of a decade that was important to both teams. For the Barons, the decade saw the team return to Rickwood from Montgomery in 1981 and win two Southern League Championships in 1983 and 1987. For the Classic, the Barons donned the uniforms of the 1983 Championship team, which posted an all-time Southern League-best home record of 57-16.

For Huntsville, the Stars were born in the 80's when the team began its professional existence in 1985. The very first game in Stars history was in Birmingham when they took on the Barons at Rickwood Field on April 12th; the Barons won a slugfest, 15-12. In honor of that day the Stars wore their original uniforms from their inaugural year.

2002 (7th Annual Rickwood Classic)
The Barons featured the uniform of the 1928 Southern Association champions. Under the direction of skipper Johnny Dobbs, the 1928 Barons won a club-record 99 games and claimed their first league title in 14 years after sweeping Memphis in three games.